ID 


1776.  A  SOUVENIR  OF  THE  CENTENNIAL  1876. 


AT  THE 


GREAT  EXPOSITION. 


BTA  CHICAGO  LAWTER. 


THE    NATIONAL    ODE, 

BY  BAYARD   TAYLOR, 

— AND — 

THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION, 


BY  HON.   W.   AT.   EVARTS. 


JEIIustrattfr  fcottf)  Nunurous  ^ull-pa^j  2£njjraS)tnss. 


CHICAGO: 

MOSES  WARREN  &  Co.,  103  STATE  ST. 

1877- 


COPYRIGHT 

1876 
BY  CENTENNIAL  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


TO 

THE  AMERICAN  PEOPLE, 

WHOSE    MATCHLESS    EN-TF.RPRISE,    DAUNTLESS     HEROISM,    UNFLINCHING    PATRIOTISM 
AND      WISE      EDUCATIONAL     SYSTEM,     HAVE     CREATED,     IN     A     CENTURY,     THE 
GREATEST    OF    REPUBLICS,     THIS    BOOK    IS    RESPECTFULLY    DEDICATED, 
BY    THE    AUTHOR,    IN    COMMEMORATION    OF    THE    FIRST     CEN- 
TENNIAL ANNIVERSARY  OF  OUR  NATIONAL  LIFE;   WITH 

THE   HOPE  THAT  IT  MAY  INSPIRE  A  GREATER   LOVE 

OF     COUNTRY,     AND     A     CLOSER     FEELING     OF 

UNIVERSAL  BROTHERHOOD   AMONG  ALL 

WHO    MAY    PERUSE    ITS     PAGES. 


1G99372 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


DEDICATION. 
IISTTIROIDTJC!  TXOZCsT- 

WORLD  TREASURES  OF  THE  MAIN  BUILDING. 

Page. 

Our  Department  (U.  S.)  —  General  Description  of  Hall  —  Pianos  —  Exquisite 
Cameos  —  Set  Made  for  John  Alden  and  Priscilla  —  Diamonds  —  Onyx  Man- 
tle for  Emperor  of  Germany  —  Century  Vase — Statuary:  Diana  Apollo  — 
Warwick  and  Egyptian  Vases  —  MacMahon — Milton's  Bible — Petrifac- 
tions—  Silver  Ore  —  Curious  Old  Pianos — Jewelry,  etc 10 

Great  Britain  and  Ireland. —  Tapestries,  Furs,  Silks,  Velvets,  Furniture, 
Glass-ware,  St.  George  and  the  Dragon,  Porcelain  —  Oak  Chest  from  Salis- 
bury Cathedral  —  Statue  of  Carlyle —  Steel  Armor,  Shields,  Vases —  Milton's 
Shield  —  Helicon  Vase,  etc 21 

French  Department. — Pallissy  Ware,  Vases,  Clocks,  Velvets,  Silks,  "Fabrics  — 
Machine  to  Play  Piano  —  Glass — Curious  Gobelin  Tapestry 29 

Swiss  Department. —  Wonderful  Watches,  Music  Boxes  —  Artificial  Singing 
Bird  and  Trumpeter — Clocks,  etc 34 

Russian  Department. —  Fabrics  —  Carving  in  Gold  and  Silver — Malachite 
Ornaments — Statuary,  etc 37 

German  Department. —  Books,  Maps,  Charts  and  Chromes  —  Clocks,  Tapes- 
tries—  Model  of  Steamer 38 

Austrian  and  Hungarian  Department.—  Delicate  Green  and  Bohemian 
Glass  —  Goblet  Reflecting  Colors  —  Magnificent  Vase — Costly  Pipes  and 
Fine  Jewelry • 41 

Belgium  Department. —  Laces,  Tapestries  —  Fire-arms,  Musical  Instruments, 
Inlaid  Work,  Sewing  Machines,  Glass-ware  —  Carved  Oak  Fireplace 

Netherlands  Department. —  Soaps,  Marbles,  Tapestries,  Lacquer-work,  Glass- 
ware—  Bengalese  Loom  —  Scenes  from  Goethe,  Inlaid  with  Mother  of 
Pearl,  on  a  Lacquered  Screen,  1st.  Faust  Selling  His  Soul  for  Youth  and 
Beauty.  2d.  Penitent  Marguerite  at  the  Church  Door.  3d.  Marguerite  in 
Church.  4th.  Marguerite  at  Her  Mother's  Tomb 


CONTENTS. 

Page. 

British  Colonies:  Canadian  Department.— Leather- work,  Tools  — Farming 
Implements,  Pottery,  Organs,  Marbles,  etc. —  Model  of  School  Building 
and  Apparatus —  Column  of  Coal 44 

South  Australia. —  Marbles,  Ores.  Native  Woods,  Cereals,  Furs,  etc. —  Queens- 
land Fruits,  Wool,  Cocoons,  Books,  Coal,  Gold  Quartz,  Malachite  Marbles, 
Copper  Ores — All's  Not  Gold  That  Glitters  —  Gold  Exports  of  Queensland, 
New  South  Wales,  British  Columbia  New  Zealand  —  New  Zealand  Produc- 
tions and  Curiosities —  Jamaica  Shells,  Inlaid  Tables,  Lace.  etc. —  Bahama 
Shell-work  and  Fine  Native  Woods  —  African  Baskets,  Cloth,  Cooking  Ves- 
sels and  Harp  —  Cape  of  Good  Hope  Cereals  and  Young  Ostrich  —  Tasmania 
Exhibits* 44 

Department  of  India. —  Carved  Blackwood  Furniture,  Musical  Instruments, 
Famous  Cashmere  Shawl,  Tapestries,  Inlaid  Marble  Vases  and  Silver  Ser- 
vice, Native  Plow,  Views  of  Temples,  Hindoo  Prayers,  Paintings — Plumbago 
Elephan  t 47 

Brazilian  Department. — 13,000  Dollar  Diamond,  Stuffed  Birds  and  Butter- 
flies, Crayon  Sketches,  "  Clean  Artisans,"  Machinery,  Bridges,  Drawing 
Instruments,  etc 49 

Mexican  Department. —  Meteorite,  Hard  Rock,  Mexican  Onyx  and  Sable, 
Button  of  Silver  worth  $72,000,  Books  and  Engravings 50 

Spanish  Department. —  Portraits  of  Isabella,  Columbus,  Pizarro,  DeSoto, 
Cortes  and  Ponce  de  Leon — Embossed  Armor —  Ores,  Porcelain,  Silver 
Platter,  Brasswork,  Wearing  Apparel  and  Marbles 53 

Turkish  Department.— The  Pretty  Turk,  The  Old  Turk,  Old  Armor  and 
Coins.  Harp  of  David,  Mementoes  from  Abraham's  Oak,  Manufactures, 
Rich  Furniture,  Illustrated  Books,  Tapestries — Carpenter's  Tools 55 

Italian  Department. —  Statuary,  Wonderful  Carvings,  Pagininni's  Violin,  In- 
laid Table,  Elaborate  Stone  Carvings 60 

Norse  Department. —  Ores,  Carriages,  Old  Weapons,  Books,  Porcelain  Jewelry, 
Upright  Pianos,  Lapland  Costume 03 

Swedish  Department. —  Earthern ware,  Cutlery,  Wall  Paper  —  Iron  Ores  and 
Castings — Dying  Stag  —  Soldier's  Uniform  and  Weapons  in  1632  —  Esqui- 
maux Canoe  of  Skins ,  64 


CONTKNTS. 

Pago. 

Kgvptian  Department. —  Greeting  —  Model  of  Pyramid,  Silver  Ornaments, 
Koran,  Ethiopian  Queen.  Mosque  Door  of  Ebony  and  Ivory  —  Tusks  of  Wild 
Boar  and  Hippopotamus,  Fig  Tree  Cloth,  Camel  Saddles,  Gold  Embroidered 
Table  Cover,  etc.  —  Pharoah , G7 

Tunisian  Department.  —  Pavement  of  Temple  to  Diana,  Fanning  Imple- 
ments, Weapons  from  Bey  of  Tunis',  Table  Service,  Old  Weapons 75  / 

Chinese  Department. —  Embroidered  Screen,  Lacquer  Work,  Vases,  Carv\d 
Furniture,  Ivory  Ship 76 

Japanese  Department. —  Carved  Bedstead,  Rock  Crystal — For  Procession — 
Embroidery,  Paintings,  Medallions,  Big  Vases,  Carriages,  Gongs,  Old  Sword, 
Books,  Surgical  Instruments,  Wax  Work,  Iron  Armor 80 

Sandwich  Islands  Department. —  Queen  Emma's  Case,  Model  of  Native  Brig, 
Hair  Necklace,  Bird  Catcher's  Cloak,  Stuffed  Birds 84 

South  American  Department. —  Books,  Engravings,  Woods,  Marbles,  etc.  from 
Chili,  Hat,  Old  Stone  Carving,  and  Mummy  from  Peru  —  Argentine  Re- 
public Exhibit,  Leather  Work,  Birds,  Corals,  Native  Woods,  etc.  from  Little 
Orange  Free  State 87 

THE  ANNEX  TO  THE  MAIN  BUILDING. 
Carriages,  Cars,  Engines,   Machinery,  Commission  from  Erroll 92 

NEW  ENGLAND  IN  THE  OLDEN  TIME. 

Log  House,  Peregrine  White's  Cradle,  Flax  Wheel,  Revolutionary  Flag.  John 
Alden's  Desk,  Gov.  Endicott's  Chair,  Old  Fashioned  Fire-Place,  A  Funeral 
Elegy,  Song  of  the  Minute  Man,  Costume 9-3  . 

UNCLE  SAM'S  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING. 

Revolving  Light,  Hell  Gate,  Washington's  Camp  Chest  and  other  Articles, 
Rude  Boats,  Musket  Making,  Spanish  Cannon,  Gattling  Gun,  Coffee- 
Mill  Gun,  Paul  Jones'  Sword,  Army  Equipments  and  Uniforms,  The  Minute 
Man,  Statue  of  Dr.  Kane,  Old  Army  Wagon,  Indian  Relics,  Mineralogical 
Specimens,  Cloth  Cutter,  Rodman  Gun,  Army  Medical  Dept.,  Microscopes, 
Life  Saving  Apparatus 101 


CONTENTS. 

Tage. 

THE  WOMEN'S  PAVILLION. 

Queen  Victoria  and  Princess  Louise's  Contributions,  Squaws  Embroidery  Pat- 
terns, "  lolanthe  "  in  Butter,  Swedish  Lovers,  Japanese  Needlework 121 

EDUCATION  AMONG  THE  JAPANESE. 

School  .Books,  Maps,  Charts,  etc.  School  System,  Imperial  University, 
Japanese  Letters,  Counting  Machine,  The  Old  Method  and  the  New,  "  Auto- 
biography of  a  Sword,"  a  composition  by  a  Japanese  school-boy,  "A  Story 
of  the  AVolf  and  Mouse,"  by  a  little  Japanese  school-girl,  "  Contrast 
between  Self  Love  and  Selfishness,"  an  essay  by  a  Japanese  Law  Student 
in  Imperial  University  of  Japan. 126 

WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL. 

Wall  Paper  Printing  Press,  Car  Wheels,  Flour  Mill,  Rubber  Making,  Com- 
pressed Air  Car,  Model  Yacht  and  Monitor,  Hoe  Press — Russian  Cannon  and 
Life  Boats — Swedish  Saw  Mills,  Armor  and  Castings — French  Silk  Loom, 
Sugar  Mill  and  Machine  for  Sinking  Shafts — Brazillian  Army  Equipage, 
Steam  Engine  and  Monitor — Envelope  Machines,  Ice  Yacht,  Pin  Sticking 
Machine,  Brussels  Carpet,  Book-Mark  and  Canvass  Looms,  Iron  Planer,  Flex- 
ible Drill,  Wire  Cables,  Big  Saw,  The  Monster  Engine,  Pumps,  Blowers, 
Steam  Wagon  and  Carriage — Germany :  The  Krupp  Cannon,  Gas  and  Air 
Engine — Great  Britain :  Iron  Cutter,  The  Big  Hammer,  Steel  Armor  Plate, 
Marine  Armor — Pennsylvania :  Iron  and  Machinery,  Horse  Shoe  Machine, 
Fret  Saw,  Tacks — Centennial  Corkscrew,  Cork  Making,  Files,  Boot  and  Shoe 
Making,  Ore  Stamping  Machine,  Stone  Dresser,  Diamond  Tooth  Saw,  Knit- 
ting Machine,  Old  Printing  Press  used  by  Franklin,  Glass  Blowing,  Stamp 
Mill,  Drawing  Machine,  Shingle  and  Barrel  Machines 137 

ATTRACTIONS  IN  THE  STATE  BUILDINGS. 

West  Virginia:  Native  Woods,  Black  Walnut,  etc. —  Arkansas:  Petrified  AVood 
and  Honey,  Magnetic  Iron,  Indian  Relics,  Spanish  Bit — Canada:  Lumber, 
the  Big  Plank  —  Mississippi :  Log  House,  Hanging  Mosses  —  California :  Silk- 
Growing,  Native  Woods — Maryland:  Charles  Carroll,  Pulaski's  Banner, 
Stephen  Decatur,  Lord  Mansfield  —  Maine :  Painting  of  "John  Alden  and 


CONTENTS. 

Page 
Priscilla" — Connecticut:  General  Putnam,  "The  Old  Oaken  Bucket"  — 

Michigan  :  Beavers'  Work  —  Wisconsin  :  Joseph  Crele,  Meshoweba  —  Kansas 
and  Colorado  :  Beasts  and  Birds,  Silver  and  Gold  Ores,  Kit  Carson's  Coat, 
Centennial  Clock,  Petrified  Fish,  Agate,  Rock  Crystal  and  Silver  Ore  Speci- 
mens, Rocky  Mountain  Sheep 174 

THE  BEAUTIFUL  ALGERIAN. 

Description  of  Lady,  Types  of  Physiognomy,  and  Costumes,  Beads,  Pipes,  Ap- 
parel and  Ornaments 194 

MARVELS  OF  AGRICULTURAL  HALL. 

Tribute  to  Ceres,  Exhibits  of  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  Canada,  France,  Germany, 
Austria,  Hungary  — From  Portugal  and  African  Colonies,  Ivory  Tusk,  Dishes, 
Loom,  Weapons,  etc.  —  Italian  Fruits,  Plows,  etc. — Siberian  Cereals,  Iron 
Ore,  Loom  —  Ornamental  Woods,  Wax  Flowers,  etc.,  from  Venezuela  —  Por- 
trait of  Washington  made  of  Hair  —  Russian  Farm  Machinery,  Grains  and 
Costumes  —  Brazillian  Cotton  Palace,  Ornamental  Woods,  etc.  —  Dutch  Fish- 
ing Galley,  "  Merveilleuse  Hedge  "  —  Displays  from  Denmark,  Sweden,  Ar- 
gentine Republic  and  Norway  —  American  Farm  Machinery  —  Specimens  of 
Soil,  Woods  and  Fruits  from  Iowa — Ohio  and  Michigan  —  Oregon  Wheat  and 
Manna  —  California  Ores,  Mastodon's  Tooth,  "  Totum,"  — The  Romance  of 
a  Grape  Vine  —  Daniel  Webster's  Plow 196 

OUR  SCHOOLS  AND  SOME  OTHERS. 

United  States  Exhibit,  Sweden's  School  Building  and  Contents,  School  Furni- 
ture from  Norway,  Belgium's  Model  Building  and  Furniture 215 

THE  TURKISH  CAFE. 
The  Furniture,  Turkish  Lady,  Cashier,  Waiter,  Coffee  and  Pipes 219 

HORTICULTURAL  HALL. 
Tropical  Plants,  View  from  Gallery,  Scene  Inside 223 

CASTELLANI  COLLECTION  OF  ANCIENT  CURIOSITIES. 
Signer  Castellan!  —  Statuary,   a   Roman   Lady,    Sappho,   Perseus,  Emperor 
Augustus,  Cupid  and  Psyche,  Alexander  the  Great,  Apollo,  Bacchus,  Euri- 
pides, Tiberius,  The  Spinario  —  Bronzes  of  the  Sixth  Century,  A  Roman 


CONTENTS. 

Page. 
Lady's  Toilet  Set  —  Ancient  Coins,  Rings,  Necklaces,  etc. —  Ornaments  from 

Etrurian  Cemeteries  —  Egyptian  and  Greek  Ornaments,  Also  from  Eighth 
and  Ninth  Centuries,  The  Lost  Art 225 

PRE-HISTORIC  RACES  AND  RELICS. 
Houses  of  Arizona,  "  Cave  Dwellings  " —  Ruins  of  Ancient  Tower  in  Colorado, 

—  Specimens  of  Copper  —  Implements  from  Mound  near  Kalamazoo  —  Curi- 
ous Stone  Etching  —  Copper  Sandals  and  Utensils  from  Ohio — The  Cincin- 
nati Tablet —  Copper  Surgical  Instruments  from  Wisconsin 283 

ODDS  AND  ENDS;  HERE  AND  THERE. 

The  Spanish  Building,  Coins,  Weapons,  etc.  —  The  "  New  England  Journal" 

—  Egyptian  Mummy  —  Silver  Quartz  Mill  from  Chili  —  Pneumatic   Railway 

—  Gunpowder  Pile  Driver  —  The   French  Building  —  Humane  Society  Ex- 
hibit—  "  Old  Abe"  the  famous  War  Eagle 238 

STUDIES  FROM  THE  ART  GALLERY. 

Being  vivid  and  graphic  pen-pictures  describing  the  following  remarkable  works 
of  Art,  grouped  in  topics  and  chapters. 

SOUL  IN  COLORS. 
Bishop  Berkeley  —  Milton  and  his  Daughters  —  Marriage  of  the  Covenanters 

—  Eva  St.  Clair  —  Lady  Jane  Grey's  Triumph  over  Bishop  Gardiner  —  Rispah 
Protecting  the  Bodies  of  Her  Sons 248 

STUDIES  OF  THE  BEAUTIFUL. 
Italy  the  Land  of  Art  and  Song  —  After  School  —  Beggars  —  The  Veiled  Girl 

—  The  West  —  Miriam  —Venice  Paying  Homage  to  Caterina  Cornaro — Day — 
Faith 254 

GLIMPSES  OF  THE  HORRIBLE. 

A  Duel  in  the  Seventeenth  Century  —  The  Martyrdom  of  St.  Agnes  —  Prome- 
theus Bound  —  A  Scene  at  the  Destruction  of  Pompeii  —  The  Blinding  of 
Prince  Arthur  —  The  Inquisition  —  Christian  martyrs  in  the  Reign  of  Diocle- 
tian... ..  260 


CONTENTS. 

Page. 

HUMOROUS  IN  ART. 

The  Traveled  Monkey  —  Nobody  was  Born  a  Master — The  Contented  Hermit 
—  Chesterfield's  Ante-room  —  A  Whisky  Ring 263 

CHARACTER  IN  CHISELING S. 

Media  —  Cleopatra  in  Death  —  John  Brown  —  Humboldt  —  Garabaldi — Dante  209 

HISTORY  ON  CANVASS. 

Charles  I.  leaving  Westminster  Hall  after  his  Trial  —  Landing  of  the  Puri- 
tans—  The  Eve  of  Battle —  Landing  of  Columbus  —  The  Night  before  Bos- 
worth  —  The  Fall  of  Rienzi,  the  Last  Roman  Tribune  —  Cjesar 272 

PENCILINGS  OF  THE  ANTIQUE. 

Circe  and  the  Companions  of  Ulysses —  Ulysses  and  the  Sirens  —  The  Chariot 
Race  —  Mosaic  Table  — Death  of  Caesar 275 

FAMOUS  MASTERS. 

Christ,  by  Murillo  —  The  Crucifixion,  by  Van  Dyke  —  A  Lion,  by  Landseer  — 
Castle  in  Wales,  by  Turner — Death  of  Gen.  Wolfe,  by  Benjamin  West  — 
Works  of  Joshua  Reynolds,  Sir  Peter /Lely,  Dubufe,  Rosa  Bonheur 276 

SERMONS  ON  THE  WALL. 

The  Five  Foolish  Virgins  at  the  Locked  Door — The  Anatomist  —  Early  Afflic- 
tion—  My  Lady  is  a  Widow  and  Childless  —  The  Family  Scene  —  Lost  and 
Found  —  Young  Whittington — Herodias  —  Prayer  of  Judith  —  Dark  Mo- 
ments —  Christ  Blessing  Little  Children 278 

A  MEDLEY  OF  ART  GEMS. 

Lenore  —  Marguerite  in  Prison — Memory — Portrait  by  Van  Dyke — The 
Minute  Man —  The  Priestess  of  Iris  —  Applicants  for  Admission  to  a  Casual 
Ward,  a  Scene  in  London  Life  —  Death  of  Abel  —  The  Boston  Boys  and  Gen- 
eral Gage  —  The  Vanquished  —  Dante  and  the  Young  Girls  of  Florence  — 
Sheikh  Salah  Dead  in  his  Tent — Christmas  in  the  Dungeon  of  the  Coliseum 
— Canada  Otter  —  The  Pilgrims  Sunday  Morning  —  Picture  in  Mosaic  —  Mar- 
riage of  the  Prince  of  Wales — Washing  the  Beggar's  Feet  —  The  Crown 
Prince  of  Germany  and  Staff  on  the  Battle  Field 284-303 


LIST  OF  FULL  PAGE  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 
7.    The  Main  Building. 

11.    The  Century  Vase. 

73.  Pieces  of  Tunisian  Table  Service 
and  Drum. 

15.    Hebe,  Antique. 

19.    Diana,  Antique. 

23.  A  Celebrated  Vase  from  the  British 
Museum. 

27.    The  Famous  Warwick  Vase. 

31.    Flora,  Antique. 

85.    Antique  Egyptian  Vase. 

39.    Case  of  Fine  Figured  Silks. 

51.    View  in  Brazilian  Department. 

57.    Silver  Filigree  Work. 

61.    The  Greenland  Meteorite. 

65.  A  deer  made  of  spikes,  and  a  curi- 
ous ethnological  specimen  iu 
Swedish  Department. 

69.    Tunisian  Fabrics  and  Ornaments. 
.   77.    View  in  Chinese  Department. 

81.    Chinese  Screens  and  Inlaid  Work. 

65.    Curious  Chinese  Carved  Furniture. 

89.    Curious  Porcelain  Vases, 


93.  Scene  from  Top  of  Main  Building. 

103.  Uncle  Sam's  Government  Building 

111.  The  Minute  Man,  Statue. 

117.  The  Arizona  Meteorite. 

123.  The  Women's  Pavilion. 

135.  Machinery  Hall. 

157.  The  Big  Hammer. 

167.  The  West  Virginia  Building 

171.  The  Arkansas  Building. 

175.  The  Mississippi  Building. 

179.  The  Connecticut  Building. 

183.  The  Kansas  and  Colorado  Building. 

187.  The  New  Jersey  Building. 

191.  The  Pennsylvania  Building. 

197.  Agricultural  Hall. 

207.  An  Old  M.ll  in  Horticultural  Hall. 

221.  Horticultural  Hall. 

239.  The  Spanish  Building. 

249.  The  Art  Gallery. 

207.  The  Judges  Hall. 

245.  The  Japanese  Building. 

287.  "  Memory,"  a  statue  in  granite,  in 

Art  Gallery. 

303.  FINIS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


DEAR  READER: 

If  you  will  throw  aside  your  cares  and  anxieties,  smooth 
the  wrinkles  from  your  brow,  and  drive  the  shadows  from 
your  heart,  I  will  accompany  you  to  the  great  Centennial 
Exposition,  at  Philadelphia  —  not  by  rushing  trains  or 
crowded  omnibuses,  but,  perusing  these  pages — in  the  quiet 
seclusion  of  your  homes,  by  your  firesides,  in  your  moments 
of  leisure,  or  hours  of  travel,  in  your  parlor,  study,  or 
wherever  you  will.  Perhaps  you  have  already  been  there ; 
then  it  shall  be  my  pleasant  privilege,  to  refresh  your  memo- 
ries, and  awaken  to  new  life  your  enthusiasm,  in  reviewing 
the  objects  of  beauty  and  interest  you  witnessed  there,  and 
also  to  compare  notes  with  you.  If  you  have  not  been,  and 
cannot  go,  except  in  imagination  with  me,  I  will  use  my  best 
endeavor  to  repair  what  you  lose,  by  making  your  impres- 
sions of  it,  as  real  and  vivid  as  possible.  This  event  is  an 
epoch  in  our  history,  worthy  of  our  careful  notice.  Bayard 
Taylor,  who  has  witnessed  all  the  great  world's  fairs,  expresses 
the  opinion,  that  taken  as  a  whole,  our  Exposition  surpasses 
all  its  predecessors. 

With  this  short  introduction,  and  your  consent  to  visit  or 
review  this  wonderful  gathering  of  the  nations,  we  will 
begin  our  journey  at  once,  by  first  examining: — 


The  World  Treasures  of  the  Main 
Building. 


It  is  impossible  for  words  to  convey  any  adequate  idea  of 
the  extent  and  richness  of  the  display  in  this  department 
of  the  Exposition.  Suppose,  in  imagination,  you  accompany 
me  through  this  vast  wilderness  of  beauty,  and  we  will  at- 
tempt to  get  a  general  idea  of  the  whole,  and  to  notice  in 
detail,  many  of  the  most  remarkable  objects.  And  first,  let 
us  ascend  the  organ  gallery,  at  the  end  of  the  building,  and, 
looking  down  the  entire  length  of  the  hall,  we  see  before  us 
a  brilliant  and  exhilarating  spectacle, — flags,  tapestries,  laces, 
statuary,  beautiful  show-cases  by  the  acre,  filled  with  the 
finest  manufactured  goods  of  all  descriptions;  so  much,  that 
it  is  possible  only  to  generalize.  We  see  a  vast  room,  about 
one-third  of  a  mile  in  length,  and  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
wide,  filled  with  the  finest  products  of  man's  skill  aud  indus- 
try, from  all  parts  of  the  world.  Here  and  there,  in  large 
black  letters  on  a  scarlet  ground,  appears  the  name  of  each 


10        BEH  BEVEELY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION". 

country  represented.  Let  us  descend,  and  pass  through  the 
labyrinths  of  aisles,  and  notice  more  particularly  some  of  the 
most  striking  exhibits;  and  first,  we  will  begin  at  home.  Our 
own  country,  many  supposed,  was  indifferent,  and  even  neg- 
ligent in  sending  articles  for  exhibition,  but  a  very  few  mo- 
ments of  observation,  convinces  one  that  this  impression  is 
entirely  without  foundation. 

As  a  people,  we  may  well  be  proud  of  our  department;  and 
to  thousands  from  abroad,  it  will  be  a  wonderful  revelation. 
Here  are  acres  covered  with  almost  every  conceivable  product 
of  industry,  of  the  finest  quality  and  shown  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage. To  enumerate,  would  be  to  give  a  catalogue  of  all 
manufactures.  And  not  only  the  most  common  and  substan- 
tial articles  of  daily  use,  but  also  those  costly  and  delicate 
attendants  of  luxury,  which  our  foreign  neighbors  have  sup- 
posed, that  only  they,  with  their  generations  of  skillful  ex- 
perience, could  produce  in  perfection.  The  old  world  has 
long  admitted  the  superiority  of  our  reaping  and  threshing 
machines,  and  labor-saving  machinery;  but  explains  it  on  the 
ground  of  necessity, — that  we  have  lacked  laborers,  and  were 
obliged  to  resort  to  machinery  as  a  substitute.  But  a  careful 
examination  must  convince  all,  that  the  world  contains  no 
fingers  more  cunning,  no  minds  more  inventive,  nor  tastes 
more  refined,  than  are  found  on  our  shores.  For  instance, 
notice  those  magnificent  pianos,  which  stand  unrivalled  in 


THE    CENTURY    VASE.     (p.  14.) 


OUR  DEPARTMENT. 


13 


the  whole  world;  these  cameos  of  the  most  exquisite  workman- 
ship,— this,  for  example,  representing  the  ancient  Briton  in  his 
war  chariot,  his  three  horses  flying  like  the  wind,  every  part  of 
which,  when  examined  under  a  magnifying  glass,  shows  a 
finish  and  accuracy  which  is  truly  wonderful;  or  this  set  of 
jewelry  in  five  pieces,  designed  for  the  descendants  of  John 
Alden  and  Priscilla,  whom  Longfellow  has  immortalized  in 
his  poem,  "  The  Courtship  of  Miles  Standish,"  which  is  made 
by  placing  pieces  of  the  veritable  Plymouth  Rock  in  gold  set- 
tings of  beautiful  design;  or  this  necklace,  blazing  with  a 
score  of  brilliant  diamonds,  worth  $42,000;  or  these  sets  of 
furniture  which  almost  belong  to  the  realm  of  the  fine  arts, 
and  which  are  fit  for  palaces  of  the  proudest  monarchs;  and 
we  have  reason  to  take  pride  in  the  high  rank  of  our 
skilled  labor  in  its  most  artistic  aspect. 

Let  us  notice  this  mantel  made  from  Mexican  onyx,  for  the 
Emperor  of  Germany,  by  a  New  York  house,  which  is  a  mar- 
vel of  beauty,  not  only  in  regard  to  the  material,  but  also  in 
design  and  finish.  In  front,  are  two  columns  with  silver  trim- 
mings; on  the  top  stands  a  neat  clock,  with  antique  design 
in  silver,  in  bas-relief.  This  marble  is  light  colored,  dappled 
with  different  shades  in  the  most  exquisite  manner,  and  ex- 
tremely rich  and  delicate  in  its  appearance.  The  price  of 
this  household  treasure  was  $2500. 


14        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

One  of  the  most  exquisite  pieces  of  workmanship,  is  a  vase 
called  "The  Century  Vase,"  made  by  the  Grorham  Company, 
the  celebrated  manufacturers  of  silver  ware.  It  is  about  five 
feet  long,  and  fourfeet  high,  and  contains  two  thousand  ounces 
of  solid  silver.  It  is  an  epitome  of  our  history  during  the  last 
century;  so  suggestive  and  appropriate  are  the  designs. 

Here  are  copies  of  celebrated  statuary  in  terra-cotta,  which 
do  so  much  to  popularize  art,  and  to  cultivate  the  taste  of 
thousands,  who,  otherwise,  would  have  110  conception  of  the 
master  pieces  of  famous  artists.  Here  is  Diana  by  Benzoni, 
the  Apollo  Belvidere  from  the  Vatican  at  Rome,  the  ancient 
Warwick  vase  from  the  British  Museum,  an  Egyptian  vase  of 
great  antiquity,  and  many  other  copies  of  noted  art  treasures. 
In  a  show  case  containing  military  uniforms  and  accoutre- 
ments, we  notice  a  fine  wax  figure  of  Marshall  Mac  Mahon  of 
France,  which,  judged  by  his  portraits,  must  be  a  strikingly 
accurate  likeness.  A  well  built,  military  figure,  a  fine  face 
with  dignified  commanding  expression,  gray  hair  and  mus- 
tache, and  the  mien  of  one  "born  to  command." 

The  American  Bible  Society  exhibit  specimens  of  their 
bibles,  printed  in  two  hundred  different  languages.  They 
have  John  Milton's  Bible,  which  is  yellow  from  age,  and  yet 
well  preserved,  It  is  a  small  edition,  about  five  inches  long, 
and  three  wide,  in  red  morocco  and  gilt.  They  have  also  a 


HEBE.    (p.  14.) 


OUR  DEPABTMEJST.  17 

large  bible  printed  in  Venice  in  1476,  and  its  pages  are  like  a 
field  spangled  with  bright  flowers,  so  gayly  colored  are  the 
illuminations. 

In  a  department  containing  school-books  and  dictionaries, 
we  find  a  specimen  of  the  handwriting  of  Noah  Webster,  the 
author  of  Webster's  Dictionary.  It  is  a  leaf  or  two  from 
his  manuscript  of  the  dictionary,  written  in  a  plain,  old  fash- 
ioned hand,  in  a  labored  manner,  a  large  portion  of  it  erased 
and  interlined.  It  makes  one  ache  to  think  of  the  long  years 
of  constant,  steady  toil,  required  to  write  such  a  dictionary  as 
his,  in  such  an  exact  and  painstaking  manner.  Any  one  see- 
ing the  accuracy  denoted  by  erasures  and  interlineationsr 
and  the  marked  evidences  of  the  most  exhaustive  research,will 
value  more  than  ever  before,  the  legacy  he  has  left  us  in  his 
noble  work.  He  was  also  something  of  a  physician,  for  here 
are  several  books  by  him  on  epidemic  diseases,  bilious  fevers,  etc. 

Here  is  a  curious  specimen  of  vegetable  petrifaction,  from 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  which  is  a  rock  composed  of  a  mass  of 
leaves,  many  of  them  in  perfect  form. 

We  notice  some  shark's  teeth,  which  were  taken  from  green, 
sand  marl  in  New  Jersey.  Also  specimens  of  silver  ore,  from 
the  consolidated  Virginia  mine  in  Colorado,  which  has  made 
monthly  dividends  of  $1,080,000.  This  ore  looks  like  hard, 
barren  rock,  not  one  thousandth  part  so  attractive  as  the 
worthless  rock  near  by,  glittering  with  pyrites  of  iron. 


18        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

Here  are  coils  of  iron,  six  inches  square,  which  have  been 
bent  when  cold,  and  iron  bars  tied  in  knots  like  a  piece  of 
cord;  a  piano  whose  case  is  made  of  wood  from  the  famous 
old  charter  oak — and  here  is  the  oldest  piano  in  America,  made 
in  Germany  in  1745,  an  instrument  of  four  and  a  half  octaves, 
about  seven  feet  long,  and  two  and  a  half  wide,  the  keys  yel- 
low with  age,  the  legs  turned  neatly,  and  the  case  made  of 
rosewood,  or  wood  similar  in  appearance.  Here  is  a  skeleton 
of  what  is  marked  an  extinct  lizard,  taken  from  the  green 
marl  in  New  Jersey.  It  would  seem  to  have  been  designed 
for  walking  on  two  legs,  and  somewhat  resembles  a  kangaroo. 
When  in  an  upright  position,  the  head  must  have  been  about 
fifteen  feet  above  the  ground.  The  length  of  the  body  is 
about  twenty  feet. 

Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  whole  forest  of  trees  being  turned 
into  stone?  Here  is  a  piece  of  wood  from  a  petrified  forest  in 
California,  three  miles  long  and  one  mile  wide.  It  is  supposed, 
that  it  was  once  flooded  with  water  from  a  hot  spring  near 
by,  which  was  impregnated  with  certain  mineral  properties, 
that  produced  this  effect.  We  see  also  a  piece  of  rock  soap — a 
very  soft,  gritty  stone,  which  will  wear  away  when  rubbed, 
and  answers  very  well  as  a  substitute  for  soap,  when  no  better 
is  to  be  had. 

Here  are  magnificent  displays  of  jewelry  and  silver  ware, 
which  are  bewilderingly  beautiful,  and  are  constantly  sur- 


DIANA,     (p.   14. 


THE  BRITISH  DEPARTMENT.  21 

rounded  by  crowds,  anxious  to  get  a  glimpse  of  this  enormous 
wealth.  They  do  not  have  the  opportunity  every  day  to  see  a  set 
of  diamonds,  necklace,  coronet,  earrings,  and  brooch,  worth 
nearly  $200,000,  and  cases  filled  with  diamonds  of  lesser  value, 
and  all  kinds  of  precious  stones,  beautifully  set.  We  see  the 
largest  opal  in  the  world, — oval  in  form,  about  three  inches 
long,  and  two  wide,  which  reflects  the  tints  of  the  rainbow; 
it  is  wonderfully  beautiful.  It  is  worth  $2,500. 

The  department  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  is  very  fine, 
but  Ave  can  only  notice  some  of  the  most  interesting  objects, 
flere  are  gorgeous  tapestries  of  huge  dimensions;  exquisite 
lace  and  embroidered  curtains;  engravings  and  chromos;  case 
after  case  of  the  best  editions  of  standard  works,  which  would 
warm  the  heart  of  a  book  lover;  brass  and  silver  musical  in- 
struments, which  reflect  like  a  mirror;  guns  and  cutlery  of 
the  finest  finish ;  cloths  of  all  kinds,  costly  furs  and  robes, 
ladies'  silk  dresses  and  plain  and  figured  velvets,  of  the  rich- 
est material;  shawls  of  almost  every  conceivable  quality  and 
pattern:  and,  in  short,  almost  everything  that  necessity  or 
luxury  could  require.  Notice  these  furnished  bedrooms,  in 
the  styles  of  Queen  Anne,  and  India,  respectively ;  so  rich, 
and  yet  so  quiet,  the  decorations  and  furniture  so  happily 
blended,  as  to  make  them  look  like  the  chambers  of  Peace- 

Here  is  a  splendid  collection  of  cut  glassware,  which  is  a 
study  for  an  artist.     This  goblet,  so  light  and  fragile  that  it 


22        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

makes  one  feel  uncomfortable  to  take  it  up,  and  which  is 
figured  with  a  spirited  design  of  St.  George  and  the  Dragon 
cut  almost  as  delicately  as  a  cameo,  is  worth  $140.  This 
pitcher,  covered  with  mythological  designs  cut  in  the  same 
exquisite  manner,  is  priced  at  6250.  These  are  cut  by  hand, 
and  require  the  greatest  skill  and  care  on  the  part  of  the 
workman.  There  are  hundreds  of  pieces  of  these  costly  arti- 
cles, worth  a  fortune. 

Here  are  extensive  treasures  in  porcelain,  which  might  be 
studied  for  days  together,  so  rare  are  the  designs  and  color- 
ing. A  plate,  one  of  a  set  made  for  the  Emperor  of  Germany, 
is  like  a  beautiful  picture.  It  is  astonishing  how  such  brill- 
iant colors  in  such  an  elaborate  picture  can  be  burned  on 
this  material  without  the  slightest  blur  or  irregularity.  This 
single  plate  is  worth  $60,  which  suggests  the  care  and  skill 
required  in  making  them.  A  pair  of  vases  not  a  foot  in  height, 
on  the  sides  of  which  are  representations  of  Landseer's 
famous  dog  pictures,  "High  and  Low  Life,"  colored  in  the 
same  artistic  manner,  are  priced  at  $1,000  each. 

Here  is  an  oak  chest  made  of  beams  660  years  old,  from 
Salisbury  Cathedral,  England,  and  carved  with  designs  from 
Gothic  architecture.  The  wood  is  of  a  rich,  yellow  color,  is 
sound  as  ever,  and  would  endure  apparently  for  thousands  of 
years.  The  chest  represents  a  structure  in  the  Gothic  style 
and  is  an  interesting  study  to  lovers  of  the  unique. 


A  CELEBRATED  VASE    FROM   BRITISH  MUSEUM,     (p.  14.) 


THE  BKITISH  DEPARTMENT.  25 

Here  are  samples  of  all  sorts  of  tile  for  floors,  wainscoting, 
panels,  mantels,  aud  many  other  uses.  The  treasures  of  an- 
tiquity, the  galleries  of  fine  arts,  the  chivalric  romance  of 
the  middle  ages,  all  have  been  levied  upon,  to  furnish  designs 
for  these  beautiful  decorations,  intended  to  render  homes  more 
elegant,  refined  and  artistic. 

Under  this  canopy,  is  a  life  size  statue  of  Thomas  Carlyle. 
He  is  represented  as  seated  in  his  easy  arm  chair,  and  his 
shaggy  beard  and  mustache,  which  almost  covers  his  face, 
his  sunken  cheeks,  his  wrinkled  brow,  his  thoughtful,  studi- 
ous eyes,  and  his  grim,  defiant  expression,  all  bear  the  im- 
press of  his  stern  independence,  and  his  aggressive  nature. 

Let  us  examine  these  reproductions  of  ancient  suits  of 
armor,  from  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries;  the  whole 
body  cased  in  steel,  except  a  small  opening  for  the  eyes,  and 
the  whole  covered  with  elaborate  designs.  Here  is  one  set, 
with  ogre  face  on  top  of  helmet;  on  the  shield  another,  and 
other  grotesque  and  hideous  faces  on  elbows,  knees,  and 
breast,  the  remainder  being  filled  up  with  rich  tracery  and 
carvings  of  dragons,  unicorns,  warlike  scenes,  and  a  pro- 
fusion of  strange,  fantastic  devices.  As  these  suits  are 
about  the  same  size,  it  must  be  inferred  that  they  represent 
the  size  of  the  average  man,  and  if  so,  we  must  be  larger 
than  our  ancestors,  for  I  hardly  think  these  suits  could  be 
put  on  by  the  average  man  of  to-day. 


26        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

Here  is  a  very  extensive  collection  of  elegant  brie  a  brae, 
with  many  reproductions  of  the  art  treasures  in  the  museum 
at  Kensington,  London; — vases,  shields,  and  table  service  of 
silver,  chased  with  exquisite  carvings — generally  of  spirited 
and  fierce  battle  scenes.  It  is  wonderful  how  our  forefathers 
seemed  to  regard  wars,  and  tournaments,  as  the  first  and 
greatest  objects  of  life,  judging  from  what  they  have  left  be- 
hind them. 

Here  is  a  most  beautiful  work  of  art,  called  "Milton's 
Shield,"  oval  in  form,  about  four  feet  long,  and  three  feet 
wide,  of  silver,  and  covered  with  designs  illustrating  "  Par- 
adise Lost."  In  the  centre  we  see  Satan,  in  guise  of  a  ser- 
pent, tempting  our  parents  in  Paradise.  On  the  right,  the 
archangel  Michael,  with  spear  and  shield,  hurling  the  lost 
spirits  over  the  battlements  of  heaven;  on  the  left,  Satan  en- 
couraging his  hosts  to  battle;  and  at  the  bottom,  Michael, 
standing  triumphant  over  Satan  and  his  hosts:  all  of  these, 
possessing  artistic  merit  in  the  highest  degree.  This  is  valued 
at  $8,000. 

Another  extraordinary  work  of  art  is  called  the  "  Helicon 
Vase,"  and  represents  the  triumph  of  Music  and  Poetry. 

Two  large,  reclining,  antique  figures  are  the  most  prominent 
features; — one  representing  Music  with  roll  at  her  side  and  a 
pert  cupid  at  her  feet,  looking  up  at  her;  the  other  represent- 
ing Poetry,  with  harp  and  roll  of  manuscript  before  her, 


THE     FAMOUS     WARWICK     VASE,     (p    14.) 


THE  FRENCH  DEPARTMENT.  29 

while  near  is  a  spirited  Pegasus.  The  piece  is  covered  with 
the  richest  chasing,  and  beautiful  designs  appropriate  to  the 
subject.  It  is  valued  at  $30,000. 

But  we  must  leave  this  attractive  locality,  with  its  thou- 
sands of  other  treasures  which  we  cannot  stop  to  notice,  and 
will  next  visit 


The  French  Department. 


In  this  section  we  shall  doubtless  find  many  objects  of  great 
interest,  for  the  French  are  a  luxury  loving  people,  and  have 
an  inborn  love  of  the  beautiful. 

Their  tapestries  are  celebrated  throughout  the  world,  and 
here  we  can  see  them  and  judge  for  ourselves. 

Some  of  them  are  of  immense  size,  about  thirty  by  forty 
feet,  and  are  covered  with  the  most  elaborate  designs,  in  brill- 
iant colors,  and  fully  bear  out  all  that  we  have  heard  of  them. 
One  of  them  is  said  to  have  three  thousand  different  shades  of 
color.  Here  is  a  large  display  of  Pallissy  ware,  including 
vases,  statues,  and  all  sorts  of  parlor  ornaments.  Some 
of  the  pieces  have  fishes,  foliage,  fruits,  flowers,  and  other 
figures,  which  look  as  if  they  were  moulded  and  laid  on, 
after  the  body  of  the  piece  was  formed;  so  we  may  get  some 


30        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

idea  of  the  wonderful  skill  required  to  make  them.  They 
have  rich,  strong  colors  and  a  very  bright  lustre,  and  are  exact 
imitations  of  the  work  of  the  great  originator, — Pallissy.  You 
remember  the  story  of  this  wonderful  man, — how  he  made 
the  discovery  of  this  process  the  mission  of  his  life,  and  through 
long  and  weary  years  of  poverty,  and  incessant  toil  night 
and  day,  he  braved  the  ridicule  of  his  friends,  and  the  taunts 
of  his  family,  and  reduced  himself  nearly  to  beggary  by  his 
experiments,  until  at  last,  he  was  rewarded  with  success,  and 
these  costly  articles  are  monuments  of  his  unquenchable 
energy  and  genius. 

There  are  also  beautiful  vases  of  many  different  materials 
and  varieties,  bronze  statuary  of  great  beauty,  and  clocks  of 
every  description, — neat,  handsome,  unique,  or  fantastic. 

Here  are  glossy  velvets,  shimmering  satins,  aristocratic 
brocades,  bewildering,  plain  and  figured  silks,  and  elegant 
cashmere  shawls  of  gorgeous ,  coloring.  There,  we  see  dig- 
nified broadcloths,  dressy  cassimeres,  jaunty  plaids,  and 
numberless  other  varieties  of  wearing  apparel.  A  book- 
case of  the  style  of  Louis  XV.  is  made  of  rich,  dark  wood, 
most  elaborately  carved,  and  is  valued  at  $5,000. 

You  would  not  suppose  it  possible  for  man  to  invent  a  ma- 
chine to  play  on  a  piano,  and  yet  some  ingenious  Frenchman 
has  done  that  very  thing;  and  here  it  is,  playing  some  of  the 
most  difficult  music,  with  as  much  precision  and  effect  as  an 


FLORA,   (p.  14.) 


THE  FRENCH  DEPARTMENT.  33 

excellent  pianist.  It  is  constructed  on  pneumatic  principles, 
and  is  worked  by  a  crank.  It  is  a  case  about  four  feet  long, 
three  feet  high,  and  two  feet  wide,  and  is  filled  by  bellows 
and  complicated  mechanism. 

A  folding  book  of  pasteboard,  perforated  with  holes  cor- 
responding to  the  notes  of  the  music,  is  placed  in  the  ma- 
chine for  every  tune;  and  as  these  pass  through,  machinery 
is  put  in  operation  which  causes  artificial  fingers  to  press  the 
keys  of  the  piano.  The  mechanism  is  very  complicated,  so 
that  it  is  difficult  to  explain  its  workings  in  detail,  but  it 
seems  to  work  to  a  charm. 

We  notice  magnificent  specimens  of  plate  glass,  about 
twelve  by  twenty-five  feet  in  size,  and  as  clear  as  crystal; 
ivory  carving  of  the  most  ingenious  description,  wax  and 
leather  work,  and  an  assortment  of  several  kinds  of  carriages. 
Some  of  these  have  convex  tire.  They  are  elegant,  and 
highly  finished,  but  yet  in  gracefulness  of  design,  and  COHK 
pleteness  of  finish,  they  are  not  equal  to  many,  exhibited  by 
makers  in  our  own  country. 

Before  leaving  this  department,  let  us  notice  this  curious 
Gobelin  tapestry,  dating  back  by  tradition  to  the  year  1615. 
It  is  worked  by  hand,  in  worsted;  and  although  in  places 
faded,  and  disfigured  by  age,  it  still  shows  traces  of  its  former 
beauty.  The  subject  is  the  birth  of  Christ;  the  babe  in  the 
manger,  the  mother  of  Christ,  the  wise  men  bringing  their 


34        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

gifts  with  expressions  of.  adoration;  the  cherubs  above, — all 
are  finely  brought  out.  It  was  brought  from  Europe  by  a 
French  nobleman,  and,  in  1792,  was  in  St.  Augustine's  chapel, 
Montreal. 

The  Swiss  watches  are  famous  throughout  the  world,  and 
here  is  a  good  opportunity  to  see  some  of  the  best.  It  is  a 
wonder  how  so  much  complicated  mechanism,  requiring  such 
absolute  perfection  of  movement,  can  be  contained  in  the 
space  of  a  watch.  Here,  for  instance,  is  a  gentleman's  watch 
of  ordinary  size.  It  is  a  stem  winder,  and  repeats  the  min- 
utes, hours,  and  quarters  of  an  hour.  It  has  double  con- 
centric time,  and  will  show  the  hour  at  Chicago  and  New 
York,  or  any  two  places,  and  has  a  perpetual  calendar  show- 
ing the  months,  days  of  month  and  week,  and  phases  of  the 
moon.  The  price  of  this  is  $1,150.  We  notice  a  lady's 
watch,  about  an  inch  in  diameter,  which  will  strike  the  hours 
and  quarters  of  an  hour,— price  $1,200.  But  here  is  the  small- 
est watch  in  the  world,  set  in  the  head  of  a  pencil  case,  and 
less  than  half  an  inch  in  diameter.  Another  is  set  in  a  ring, 
and  does  not  make  a  clumsy  setting,  either.  Here  are  music- 
boxes,  which  make  music  like  that  of  an  infant  orchestra, 
and  one  is  contained  in  a  small  Swiss  chalet,  on  the  top  of 
which  sits  a  little  bird,  with  brilliant  plumage,  which,  at  cer- 
tain parts  of  the  music,  turns  its  head,  flutters  its  tail  in  the 
most  natural  manner,  and  pours  forth  a  song  which  is  a 


ANTIQUE     EGYPTIAN     VASE. 


THE  RUSSIAN  DEPABTMEHT.  37 

wonderful  imitation   of   the   trills   and  warbles   of  a   song 
bird. 

There  is  a  clock  also,  which,  when  it  strikes,  folding  doors 
open,  two  miniature  trumpeters  appear  with  their  trumpets 
and  play  a  duet,  each  a  different  part,  in  perfect  time  and 
unison.  At  the  close  of  the  music,  the  figures  withdraw  and 
the  doors  close.  The  price  of  this  is  $160. 

We  will  next  visit  Russia,  and  here  is  a  genuine  surprise, 
for  most  of  us  have  supposed  this  nation  far  behind  others  in 
manufactures,  and  the  fine  arts,  and  yet  we  see  excellent 
school-apparatus,  books,  maps,  the  finest  cutlery,  satins,  laces, 
velvets,  brocades,  and  other  fabrics  of  choicest  color  and  tex- 
ture, rich  display  of  furs,  statuary,  carving  in  gold  and  silver, 
porcelain,  silver  plate,  and  embroidery  in  gold  and  silver, — 
all  evincing  the  most  consummate  skill  and  exquisite  taste. 
Here  is  a  work  of  marvelous  beauty  in  silver  and  gold.  It 
represents  a  silk  handkerchief  with  elegant  colored  border, 
thrown  across  a  golden  basket  or  server, — the  imitation  of  the 
glistening  silk  being  exquisite  beyond  description.  A  sleigh 
scene  moulded  in  silver,  is  a  very  spirited  design, — three 
horses,  graceful  and  fleet,  and  at  their  utmost  speed,  are  draw- 
ing a  sleigh  with  two  occupants.  Another  article  of  won- 
derful beauty,  is  a  malachite  table,  the  top  resting  on  gilt 
standard.  This  kind  of  marble  is  green,  figured  and  grained 
with  black.  The  top  of  the  table  is  made  by  fitting  together 


38        BEN"  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

different  pieces,  selected  for  their  beauty,  and  joined  so  per- 
fectly, that  the  joints  are  hardly  discernable.  In  the  middle  is 
fitted  a  piece  like  a  star,  and  around  it  a  circle  of  patterns 
mottled  like  shell  work,  making  a  most  charming  combina- 
tion of  colors  and  designs.  A  mantel  of  the  same  material, 
is  a  perfect  gem  of  the  kind,  and  is  priced  at  $540.  Another 
exquisite  piece  of  work  is  a  gilt  clock  for  mantel-piece,  on. 
which  a  falconer  is  seated  on  a  spirited  charger  with  bow  in 
case,  and  arrow  in  quiver.  The  hunter  has  reined  up  his  steed, 
and  the  falcon  rests  on  his  outstretched  hand,  with  wings 
outspread,  and  looking  intently  forward  to  discern  the  prey. 
Here  is  a  water  pitcher,  with  groups  of  statuary  on  four  sides, 
all  in  silver,  and  exhibiting  the  most  astonishing  skill  and 
workmanship.  In  fact,  wherever  we  go  a  surprise  awaits  us, 
at  the  richness  and  beauty  of  the  articles  which  meet  our 
eyes. 

In  the  German  department  we  find  extensive  collections  of 
books,— the  fine  editions  of  standard  authors,  school-books, 
maps,  charts  and  chromos,  some  of  which  are  very  fine. 
There  are  also  clocks  of  many  antique  and  ornamental  de- 
signs, and  tapestries  of  large  size  and  great  richness.  There 
is  a  model  of  the  Hamburgh  steamers  which  represents  one 
cut  in  two,  lengthwise,  and  shows  exactly  the  internal  con- 
struction. There  are  many  other  interesting  articles  here, 
but  it  seems  as  if  the  display  in  this  department  is  not  quite 


CASE    OF    FINE    FIGURED  SILKS,     (p.  SO.) 


THE  AUSTRIAN"  DEPARTMENT.  41 

.as  complete  as  might  be  expected  from  such  a  great  power  as 
Germany,  and  not  so  good  as  the  displays  she  makes  in  some 
of  the  other  buildings. 

We  will  pass  to  Austria  and  Hungary,  and  we  see  here  a 
very  extensive  display  of  delicate,  green,  cut-glass,  and  near  it 
an  equally  varied  collection  of  the  finest  Bohemian  glassware. 
We  are  shown  a  goblet  which  was  made  several  weeks  ago 
by  a  new  process  just  discovered.  It  reflects  the  most  brill- 
iant colors,  and  is  thought  to  be  an  important  discovery,  as  its 
cost  is  comparatively  moderate.  Among  other  objects  worthy 
of  note  is  a  magnificent  vase  of  cut  glass,  of  large  size  and 
elaborate  workmanship,  worth  $640;  an  immense  collection 
of  costly  pipes  and  an  extremely  fine  display  of  jewelry. 

In  the  Belgium  department  we  see  laces,  silks,  tapestry, 
fire  arms,  musical  instruments,  linen  goods,  blankets,  inlaid 
wood-work,  sewing  machines,  clothes,  glassware ,  and  a  beauti- 
ful carved  oak  fire  place,  all  showing  the  varied  industries  of 
the  country,  and  the  skill  of  her  artisans. 

In  the  Netherlands  we  see  fine  assortments  of  soaps,  glass- 
ware, blankets,  marbles,  tapestries,  and  beautiful  lacquer-work. 
A  Bengalese  loom  is  shown,  which  is  of  extremely  rude  con- 
struction, arid  made  of  a  few  pieces  of  rough  wood,  and  yet  it 
has  in  it,  a  piece  of  cloth  of  neat  pattern  and  colors.  On  a 
large  lacquered  screen,  there  are  lovely  pictures,  inlaid  with 
mother  of  pearl,  and  some  of  the  designs  are: — 


42  BEff  BBVEBLY  AT  THE  QBEAT   EXPOSITION. 


Scenes  from  G-oethe. 


It  is  one  of  the  most  exquisite  works  of  art  in  the  Whole 
building.  The  designs  are  about  a  foot  square,  and  four  of 
them  are  from  Goethe's  "  Faust.  "  The  first  represents  Faust 
in  his  alchemist's  study,  a  stately  old  man,  with  fine  face,  and 
long,  gray  beard,  standing  by  the  open  casement  longing  to 
discover  the  elixir  of  life,  and  so  renew  his  youth, — leaning  on 
his  hand,  a  flood  of  morning  sunlight  streaming  through,  and 
resting  on  his  laboratory,  and  gilding  crucible,  retort,  and 
chemical  apparatus  with  gorgeous  hues. 

Mephistopheles  appears  to  Faust,  and  offers  him  youth  and 
beauty  for  his  soul;  he  accepts,  and  is  transformed  to  a 
beautiful  young  man,  meets,  and  afterward  wins,  and  ruins  the 
fair  Marguerite;  and  the  next  scene  represents  the  poor,  peni- 
tent Marguerite,  about  to  enter  the  church,  dressed  in  rich 
silk,  her  dress,  the  door  lintel,  and  the  steps,  illumined  by 
golden  sunlight.  Back  in  the  shadow  of  the  church  stands 
Faust,  watching  her  enter,  his  fine  face  shrouded  in  sadness, 
as  if  reproaching  himself;  while  Mephistophles,  the  fiend  in 
human  shape,  dressed  in  red  robes,  and  large  plumed  hat, 


SCENES  FROM  GOETHE.  43 

stands  back,  his  sharp,  demonaic  face  wearing  a  smile  of  ex- 
ultation at  the  ruin  he  has  wrought. 

The  next  scene  represents  Marguerite  in  the  church,  touch- 
ing the  holy  water  near  the  door;  her  face  serious  and 
thoughtful.  The  worshippers  are  in  the  distance,  but  she 
shrinks  back  as  if  unworthy  to  join  them,  while  an  inquisi- 
tive bid  man  looks  back  at  her,  as  if  curious  to  know  her  his- 
tory. The  glorious  sunlight  streams  through  a  window,  and 
floods  her  with  its  radiance,  as  if  to  disperse  the  gloom  and 
sorrow  from  her  mind. 

The  next  scene  depicts  her  in  the  church-yard,  prostrate  at 
her  mother's  tomb,  her  hands  clasped  in  sorrow  and  remorse, 
her  golden  hair  streaming  down;  while  at  a  distance  the  vil- 
lage gossips  have  gathered  around  the  public  pump,  and  she 
is  evidently  the  subject  of  their  tattle,  for  they  are  looking 
and  pointing  sneeringly  towards  her.  In  the  back  ground 
are  seen  the  quaint  old  houses,  with  their  ancient  gables,  and 
the  venerable  old  church,  sombre  and  imposing  in  its 
shadows. 

Remember,  that  every  part  of  these  elaborate  pictures, — 
sunlight  and  shadow, — the  expression  of  features,  and  the 
elegant  costumes, — are  made  by  pieces  of  mother  of  pearl,  in- 
laid together  so  marvellously  perfect,  as  to  produce  these 
wonderful  effects.  This  beautiful  piece  of  work  is  valued  at 
$900. 


44  BEtf  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 


Let  us  next  visit  the  colonies  of  Great  Britain,  —  and  first 
we  will  pay  our  respects  to  Canada,  as  she  has  by  far  the 
most  extensive  array,  and  has  evidently  intended  to  show 
what  she  can  do.  This  department  is  intensely  practical,  and 
is  designed  to  show  the  material  resources  of  the  country: 
and  so  we  see  all  kinds  of  saws,  leather,  stoves,  boots  and 
shoes,  harness,  nails,  tacks,  copper,  tin,  horse  shoes  made  by 
machinery,  spikes,  carpenter's  tools,  furs,  farming  imple- 
ments, organs,  sewing  machines,  fire  extinguishers,  pottery, 
rope,  woolen  goods,  safes,  billiard  tables,  soaps,  crackers, 
marble,  slate,  granite,  and  a  model  of  one  of  their  public 
school  buildings,  built  of  brick  on  the  modern  style,  high, 
well  ventilated  rooms,  and  the  latest  improvements  in  seats, 
desks,  and  blackboards.  Here  is  a  column  of  coal,  twelve 
feet  high,  representing  the  thickness  of  the  coal  bed.  One 
would  get  the  impression  surely,  that  Canada  was  a  wide 
awake  country,  full  of  brain  and  sinew. 

Suppose  we  call  next  on  South  Australia.  Here  we  see 
many  specimens  of  marble,  an  extensive  collection  of  copper 
and  silver  ores,  wool,  a  magnificent  display  of  native  woods, 
wheat,  barley,  wines,  preserved  beef,  furs,  leather,  and  tin  ore. 
Queensland  is  a  part  of  Australia,  but  has  a  separate  depart- 
ment. We  find  a  splendid  collection  of  woods,  jute  leather, 
candied  fruits,  wheat,  wool,  cocoons,  coal,  books,  tobacco, 
tin,  and  fine  specimens  of  gold  in  nuggets,  in  the  quartz 


ALL'S  NOT  GOLD  THAT  GLITTERS.  45 

rock.  There  are  also  samples  of  Malachite  marble,  and  cop- 
per ores.  What  a  wealth  of  resources  do  these  articles  re- 
present, and  yet  these  are  but  a  tithe  of  what  she  has  con- 
tributed towards  the  world's  wealth.  Here  is  an  illustration 
of  the  old  adage, 


All's  not  G-old  that  Grlitters, 


for  we  see  a  column  that  looks  like  that  precious  metal,  three 
feet  square  at  the  base,  about  eighteen  feet  high,  and  sixteen 
inches  square  at  the  top,  which  is  the  size  of  the  actual  amount 
of  gold  exported  from  Queensland,  from  1868  to  1875.  Would 
you  believe  that  it  weighs  65£  tons,  and  was  worth  $35,000,- 
000.  A  very  nice  nugget  for  a  small  place  to  present  to  the 
world's  business  uses. 

The  best  showing  that  New  South  Wales  makes,  is  a  col- 
umn representing  the  gold  exported  from  that  colony  from 
1851  to  1874,  which  is  about  seven  feet  square  from  bottom 
to  top,  and  about  eleven  feet  high,  and  was  worth  $  167,949,- 
355.  Who  says  the  world  is  not  getting  rich  ? 

British  Columbia  proudly  exhibits  a  pyramid  about  six 
feet  square  at  base,  running  to  a  point  about  nine  feet  high, 
representing  the  gold  exported  from  1858  to  1875. 


46  BEN"  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

And  New  Zealand  has  the  enviable  distinction  of  showing  a 
column  four  and  a  half  feet  square  and  twenty-three  feet  and 
five  inches  high,  which  represents  the  gold  she  exported  from 
1862  to  1875.  It  weighs  246  tons  and  is  worth  $151,271,293. 
Let  our  wise  heads  establish  our  currency  on  a  gold  basis, — 
who  cares,  if  we  only  had  these  big  nuggets  safely  stowed 
away  in  Uncle  Sam's  pockets. 

By  the  side  of  this  dazzling  representation  of  wealth,  New 
Zealand  condescends  to  exhibit  samples  of  jute,  wool,  native 
woods,  leather,  rope,  mats,  coal,  and  a  collection  of  hatchets, 
spears,  and  other  articles  of  very  curious  workmanship,  made 
by  the  natives.  There  is  also  shown  a  hideous  figure-head, 
for  a  native  water  craft, — which  is  a  rough  image  painted  red 
with  sharp  nose,  body  made  of  a  carved  board,  and  large  clawsr 
probably  made  to  frighten  their  foes,  and  admirably  adapted 
for  that  purpose. 

Amongst  the  Jamaica  exhibits,  we  notice  a  large  collection 
of  fine  sea  shells  and  coral  rock,  beautiful  inlaid  tables,  native 
woods  of  great  richness  and  variety,  wool,  lace  work,  and 
sugar. 

The  Bahamas  have  contributed  specimens  of  very  elaborate 
straw  and  shell  work,  flower  stands,  immense  sea  shells, 
sponges,  and  a  fine  collection  of  native  woods. 

From  the  Gold  Coast  of  Africa,  has  come  an  interesting  col- 
lection of  articles  that  throw  much  light  on  the  condition 


BRITISH  COLONIES'  DEPARTMENT.  47 

and  manner  of  life  of  the  native  African.  Here  are  matted 
baskets,  and  colored  cloth,  which  is  surprisingly  good  for  sava- 
ges to  weave;  matting  of  red,  black  and  blue  colors;  their  cala- 
bashes and  cooking  vessels, some  of  them  tolerably  well  made; 
idols,  rudely  carved  in  wood,  whose  distinguishing  features 
are  their  big  heads,  and  dwarfish  bodies, — and  a  rude  harp  of 
the  most  primitive  pattern. 

We  find  in  the  section  allotted  to  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  wines, 
wool,  ostrich  plumes,  native  woods,  cotton  and  wheat,  all  ex- 
cellent samples.  A  young  stuffed  ostrich,  two  days  old,  is  as 
large  as  a  half  grown  goose,  and  another,  fourteen  days  old 
is  as  large  as  a  medium  sized  turkey.  Here  are  sets  of  jew- 
elry, made  by  natives,  of  musk  melon  seed,  and  a  woman's, 
head  dress,  made  of  a  band  covered  with  teeth. 

Tasmania  exhibits  wool,  very  rich  furs,  tin  and  tin  ore, 
slate,  coal,  native  woods,  and  wheat  that  looks  like  wax,  so 
clear  and  transparent  is  the  berry. 

We  will  now  visit  the  section  of  one  of  the  most  wonderful 
countries  on  the  globe,  whose  history  and  literature  are 
shrouded  in  the  mists  of  antiquity,  whose  people  are  an  enigma 
and  paradox, — a  land  of  fabulous  wealth,  of  Oriental  mag- 
nificence, of  great  intellectual  acuteness,  whose  past  is  a  ro- 
mance, and  whose  present  is  a  mystery, — I  mean  India.  Here 
is  a  set  of  furniture  from  Bombay,  carved  in  black  wood;  and 
we  see  the  most  elaborate  carving  of  storks,  turtles,  alligators, 


48  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

and  curious  devices  of  all  kinds.  Also  a  collection  of  their 
musical  instruments, — a  large  bass  horn,  a  two  stringed  affair 
something  like  a  banjo,  a  kettle  drum,  and  a  sort  of  clarionet, 
all  very  neatly  made.  Here  we  behold  one  of  their  famous 
Cashmere  shawls  woven  by  hand,  which  is  valued  at  $1,155. 
Here  are  elegant  pieces  of  tapestry,  beautiful  inlaid  marble 
vases,  and  silver  table  service,  all  of  which  display  the  won- 
derful ingenuity  and  artistic  tastes  of  this  people;  and  yet, 
look  at  this  plow  and  contrast  it  with  these  elegant  articles 
of  luxury.  It  is  one  of  their  native  plows,  and  is  made  of  a 
rough  log  with  a  bend  in  it,  having  a  rod  of  iron  like  a  crow- 
bar, projecting  in  front  to  scratch  the  ground,  a  rough  crook- 
ed beam  and  a  small  stick  projecting  backwards  for  a  handle, 
and  a  rude  yoke  made  to  tie  to  the  front  of  the  oxen's  heads. 
Look  at  that,  and  then  at  this  magnificent  embroidery  of 
woolen  and  gold,  which  dreams  of  Oriental  splendor  cannot 
surpass; and  no  wonder  we  are  amazed  at  the  contrast. 

We  see  specimens  of  their  sculptured  slabs,  the  same  as 
cover  the  sides  of  their  immense  temples.  They  are  not  of  the 
finest  finish,  and  resemble  the  designs  on  the  Assyrian  marbles. 
There  is  also  a  collection  of  photographic  views  of  their  tem- 
ples, and  some  of  those  wonderful  edifices  must  be  nearly  two 
hundred  feet  high,  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  square 
at  the  base,  but  diminishing  in  size  towards  the  top.  The 
sides  are  covered  from  top  to  bottom  with  designs  of  elephants, 


EAST  INDIA  DEPARTMENT.  49 

lions,  idols,  chariots  and  warriors — a  perfect  labyrinth  of 
ornamentation,  and  portrayals  of  historical  events,  while  the 
top  is  crowned  by  immense  figures  and  domes.  The  ceilings 
inside  are  decorated  with  circular  designs,  and  the  sides  with 
a  wilderness  of  columns  or  pilasters,  covered  with  carving 
from  base  to  ceiling.  Some  of  the  temples  are  built  with  col- 
ums  of  great  height,  above  which  are  cornices  and  friezes  of 
the  richest  character. 

Here  are  water  vessels,  swords,  guns  and  spears  of  fine  work- 
manship, many  of  them  ornamented  in  the  most  artistic  man- 
ner. We  find  also  Hindoo  prayers,  which  look  like  a  few  ir- 
regular marks,  printed  on  illuminated  sheets  of  brilliant  col- 
ors, and  all  done  by  hand.  There  are  paintings  on  mica, 
brought  from  the  Indian  Museum  at  London,  which  repre- 
sent the  Hindoo  Deities,  and  which  are  extremely  singular 
and  grotesque,  but  the  colors  are  of  wonderful  brilliancy  and 
clearness.  From  Ceylon  has  come  a  perfect  figure  of  an  ele- 
phant, carved  by  a  native  out  of  a  piece  of  plumbago. 

We  will  next  notice  the  Brazilian  section,  and  we  see  an 
excellent  display  of  the  country's  resources.  In  our  childish 
days,  a  picture  in  our  geography,  representing  the  Brazilian 
diamond  mines,  in  which  a  long  row  of  unfortunate  black 
men  were  kept  hard  at  work  looking  for  the  precious  treas- 
ures, while  near  by  stood  the  overseer,  lash  in  hand,  invested 
the  subject  with  peculiar  interest.  Here  we  see  some  of  the 


50        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

famous  gems,  of  different  sizes,  shapes,  and  degrees  of  purity. 
The  largest  and  most  perfect  diamond,  which  is  perhaps  about 
half  an  inch  square,  is  worth  $13,000.  and  there  are  a  large 
collection  of  many  other  precious  stones.  Here  are  samples 
of  coal,  iron  ore,  crystals,  furs,  leather,  silk,  soap,  furniture, 
hats,  shoes,  cotton  goods,  earthenware,  wickerwork,  embroi- 
dery, books,  including  books  for  the  blind,  inlaid  wood-work, 
maps,  charts  and  engravings.  A  case  of  stuffed  Brazilian 
birds  and  of  flowers  and  butterflies  is  a  marvel  of  beauty,  and 
is  fairly  radiant  with  rich,  tropical  hues.  The  books  and  ex- 
quisite crayon  sketches  are  indicative  of  cultivated  and  refined 
tastes.  A  department  is  here,  showing  an  artisans  school, 
which  is  decorated  by  an  inscription,  stating  that  it  is  for 
boys  from  twelve  to  fifteen  years  of  age,  to  make  them  "  clean 
artisans."  On  one  side  is  a  motto  from  Blair,  "He  who 
knows  not  what  it  is  to  labor,  knows  not  what  it  is  to  enjoy;" 
and  on  the  other,  one  from  Shakespeare: 

"  To  business  that  we  love,  we  rise  betime, 
And  go  to  it  with  delight." 

There  are  models  and  drawings  of  machinery  of  many  kinds, 
and  of  bridges,  lockgates  and  other 'public  works,  with  charts, 
working  tools,  drawing  instruments,  and  other  appurtenances 
needful  for  such  an  institution. 

Suppose  we  now  take  a  glance  at  Mexico.  We  see  here  an 
immense  meteoric  mass,  weighing  two  tons,  which  looks 


THE  MEXICAN  DEPARTMENT.  53 

almost  like  pure  iron,  red  and  rusty  from  exposure.  It  is 
not  very  comforting  to  think  of  these  ugly  lumps  of  iron, 
whizzing  around  our  earth,  and  every  now  and  then,  one 
descending  upon  it  with  the  velocity  of  a  cannon  ball. 

Here  is  a  species  of  rock  which  looks  exactly  like  hard  coal 
tar,  the  same  as  roofers  use.  It  seems  to  be  very  hard  and 
tough,  and  formerly  the  Mexicans  used  to  make  their  weapons 
out  of  it. 

Let  us  notice  the  slabs  of  Mexican  onyx,  which  are  of 
surpassing  beauty.  The  combination  of  colors  and  shades 
is  wonderful ;  some  parts  look  like  fine  boxwood,  others  like 
lignum-vitae  wood;  others  are  dappled  with  green  tints  and 
cloudy  shades,  in  the  most  exquisite  manner,  and  look  like 
mother  of  pearl. 

A  table  whose  top  is  of  this  material,  is  indescribably  beau- 
tiful, and  is  a  study,  as  much  as  a  fine  picture,  or  master- 
piece of  art.  The  richness  of  the  Mexican  silver  mines  is 
illustrated  by  an  exhibit  of  a  solid  button  of  this  metal,  about 
seven  feet  in  diameter,  and  ten  inches  thick,  which  is  worth 
$72,000.  We  notice  choice  books  in  elegant,  morocco  bind- 
ings, and  fine  engravings,  which  indicate  that  the  Mexicans 
have  a  knowledge  of  the  art  preservative. 

Let  us  next  go  over  to  the  Spanish  section,  which  is  on  the 
main  aisle  of  the  buildings  and  has  an  imposing  front  about 


54        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

thirty  feet  in  height,  which  suggests  something  of  the  former 
glory  of  this  once  powerful  nation. 

On  the  upper  part  is  a  picture  of  the  Spanish  crown  and 
coat  of  arms,  while  above,  is  another  of  a  figure  representing 
Spain,  drawing  back  a  curtain,  behind  which  is  seen  America 
rising  from  the  sea  in  the  far  distance.  On  one  side  of  this 
is  the  portrait  of  Isabella,  on  the  other  of  Columbus;  and  at 
one  end  is  a  portait  of  Pizarro,  the  famous  conqueror  of  Peru, 
clad  in  armor — a  fine  looking  military  face,  full  beard  and 
mustache,  large,  cold,  blue  eyes,  aquiline  nose,  and  haughty 
bearing;  at  the  other  is  the  portrait  of  De  Soto,  the  ill-fated 
discoverer  of  the  Mississippi,  a  fine  face,  with  grey  hair,  beard 
and  mustache. 

In  another  place  is  the  portrait  of  Cortez,  the  cruel  con- 
queror; a  well-favored  face  with  large  eyes,  regular  features 
and  full  beard  and  mustache;  and  also  that  of  Ponce  De  Leon, 
a  kingly  head  and  figure,  a  grand  face,  black  hair  and  beard 
slightly  sprinkled  with  grey:  he  looks  like  a  natural  leader  of 
men,  and  such  a  leader  as  brave  men  would  delight  to 
follow.  In  this  department,  we  notice  pieces  of  royal 
armor, — helmet  and  breastplate  embossed  with  battle  scenes, 
lines  of  cannon,  masses  of  troops,  and  fierce  conflicts 
man  to  man,  all  of  which  are  wonderfully  spirited  stud- 
ies. Here  is  an  immense  block  of  copper  ore;  fine  speci- 
mens of  iron  and  lead  ores;  coal,  and  petrified  wood,  the  bark 


THE  PRETTY  TURK.  55 

still  retaining  its  natural  appearance.  There  are  collections 
of  porcelain  and  glassware,  a  beautiful  silver  platter  valued 
at  $3,000,  highly  finished  swords,  brasswork,  tile,  elegant 
silks,  brocades  with  the  richest  figuring,  delicate  laces, 
handsome  shawls  and  tapestries,  a  large  assortment  of 
wearing  apparel,  fancy  woolen  blankets,  rich  figured  curtains, 
fans,  and  samples  of  beautiful  marbles.  A  handsome  young 
Spaniard  seems  to  have  charge  of  this  section,  such  a  youth 
as  Ponce  De  Leon  must  have  been  when  a  young  man,  tall, 
graceful,  erect,  a  fine  head,  fresh,  handsome  face,  and  a  digni- 
fied bearing.  Portugal  has  a  very  handsome  display  of  jew- 
elry and  silver  work,  shawls  and  embroidery,  rich  silks  and 
figured  velvets. 

We  will  next  turn  our  attention  to  Turkey  and  introduce 
our  observations  by  a  description  of 

The  Pretty  Turk. 


What  means  this  throng  which  blocks  up  the  aisle,  and  seems 
to  be  drawn  irresistibly  to  a  common  center?  There  is  nothing 
that  attracts  more  eyes  than  a  pretty  young  lady,  and  par- 
ticularly, when  that  young  lady  is  a  Turkish  belle.  Notice 
how  the  proud  and  accomplished  city  beauty  turns  aside,  as  if 
accidentally,  to  see  the  attractive  stranger;  while  the  ingenii- 


56        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

ous  country  girl,  looks  as  if  she  beheld  an  apparition,  and 
drinks  in  at  one  long  glance,  her  dress,  features,  expression, 
and  general  deportment.  A  graceful,  petite  figure,  a  well- 
shaped  head,  and  finely  arched  neck,  a  pose  that  would  befit 
a  queen,  large  lustrous  black  eyes,  eyebrows  that  look  as  if 
penciled  in  India  ink,  an  aquiline  nose,  a  pretty  mouth,  a 
fair  complexion,  and  hair  black  as  night,  and  dressed  in  the 
most  approved  modern  style.  Her  acquaintance  with  our  in- 
stitutions, has  been  sufficient  to  induce  her  to  adopt  a  light, 
graceful  costume,  quite  in  harmony  with  the  slight  dash  of 
natural  coquetry  which  she  cannot  repress. 

The  swarthy  young  Turks,  with  their  immense  turbans, 
baggy  trousers,  and  highly  colored  jackets,  crowd  about  her 
and  she  greets  them  with  hearty  bon  hommie. 

The  old  Turk,  with  a  suspicious  red  nose,  and  a  deplorable 
lack  of  familiarity  with  the  English  language,  and  who  has 
charge  of  cases  of  rare  old  coins  near  by,  jabbers  in  vain  to 
catch  customers.  His  confrere,  who  is  endeavoring  to  turn 
an  honest  penny,  by  the  sale  of  rich  coffee  colored  pipes,  and 
tobacco  that  is  redolent  of  honey,  invites  attention  to  his 
wares  in  vain.  The  charming  young  lady  has  the  field,  and 
captures  the  crowd. 

In  a  case  near  by  are  some  scimaters,  swords  and  spears, 
which  look  as  if  they  had  done  service  on  bloody  battle-fields 
centuries  ago.  And  here  is  a  collection  of  old  coins,  some  of 


SILVER     FILIGREE     WORK.     (p.  6O.) 


THE  TURKISH   DEPARTMENT.  59 

silver,  stamped  with  the  heads  of  Assyrian  kings,  long  before 
the  days  of  the  prophets,  and  look  like  those  seen  in  draw- 
ings of  the  Assyrian  marbles.  Others,  bearing  the  image  of 
Julius  Caesar;  others,  those  of  Egyptian  kings,  in  the  dim, 
remote  past;  and  others,  the  figures  of  Roman  centurions. 
There  are  pieces  of  silver,  bearing  cabalistic  marks  upon 
them,  which  none  but  a  learned  antiquarian  could  decipher; 
pieces  of  brass,  with  marks  quite  illegible,  all  battered  and 
smoothed  by  century  after  century  of  use.  If  they  could  only 
speak,  what  mysteries  of  the  past  could  they  unfold;  what 
glimpses  they  could  give  of  forgotten  peoples,  and  extinct 
civilizations!  Here  are  swords,  battle  axes,  shields  and  hel- 
mets which  are  covered  with  ancient  designs,  and  which  cen- 
turies ago,  were  used  on  bloody  fields  of  carnage.  Here  are 
muskets,  pistols  and  swords,  glittering  with  the  most  lavish 
ornamentation  of  inlaid  work  of  silver  and  mother  of  pearl. 
Here  is  a  harp,  which,  the  Turks  insist,  is  an  exact  copy  of 
the  harp  of  David.  They  have  other  harps,  richer  in  design, 
but  this  style,  they  claim,  has  been  transmitted  from  age  to 
age,  since  the  time  of  David,  and  can  be  traced  back  through 
the  dim  centuries.  It  is  a  plainly  constructed  instrument 
of  black  wood  about  three  feet  high,  and  twenty  inches  wide 
at  the  base,  and  has  about  one  hundred  strings,  seemingly  of 
about  the  same  material  as  catgut  violin  strings.  We  are 
shown  articles  of  furniture,  toys  and  mementos,  purporting 


60        BEN  BEVEELY  AT  THE  GBEAT  EXPOSITION. 

to  be  cut  and  carved  from  Abraham's  oak,  and  olive  wood 
from  the  Mount  of  Olives.  If  you  regard  the  Turks  as  a 
semi-barbarous  people,  with  little  or  no  knowledge  of  the 
arts  and  manufactures,  you  are  greatly  mistaken ;  for  here  are 
beautiful  specimens  of  household  furniture,  richly  carved  and 
superbly  finished.  Here  also,  are  books  which  are  finely 
bound  and  illustrated;  rich  tapestries  and  woven  goods,  that 
are  much  better  than  our  general- impression  of  Turkish  civ- 
ilization would  lead  us  to  expect.  The  household  utensils 
shown  here,  indicate  a  people  not  unmindful  of  the  comforts 
of  life;  and  the  carpenters1  tools  resemble  ours  somewhat, 
though  ruder  and  in  many  respects  much  inferior. 

We  will  now  go  over' to  Italy,  and  here  we  find  an  atmos- 
phere of  art  and  beauty.  It  would  require  hours  to  describe 
the  exquisite  marble,  bronze  and  terra  cotta  statuary,  the 
wonderful  carving  in  black  walnut  and  ebony,  the  latter  often 
inlaid  with  pearl — centre  tables  inlaid  with  marvellous  skill, 
the  top  of  one  resting  on  the  stooping  body  of  a  negro  carved 
in  ebony, — jewelry,  porcelain,  cameos,  silver  filagree  work, 
specimens  of  mosaic,  ancient  armor,  books,  velvets,  and  a  table 
in  mosaic  worth  $1,500.  Here  is  a  violin  171  years  old,  that 
was  used  by  Pagininni,  valued  at  $1,000.  It  looks  old  and 
dirty,  and  not  worth  more  than  $2.50.  Notice  this  beautiful 
table  on  which  is  the  "Cathedral  of  Milan1'  inlaid  in  mother 
of  pearl,  with  its  wonderful  imitation  of  sunlight ;  also  this 


THE  NORSE  DEPARTMENT.  63 

table  and  settee  carved  in  stone,  which  are  covered  by  a  maze 
of  elaborate  designs  of  game,  guns,  fruit,  &c.,  of  exquisite 
beauty;  and  hundreds  of  other  articles,  which  show  the  won- 
derful ingenuity  and  artistic  taste  of  this  people. 

Reluctantly  we  leave  sunnjr  Italy,  and  turn  to  snowy  Nor- 
way. Here  are  iron  and  nickel  ores,  two-wheeled  vehicles 
much  like  our  sulkies,  sledges  of  fine  construction,  and  hand- 
somely painted  and  varnished;  a  skillfully  carved  bedstead 
and  sideboard,  and  furs  of  black  and  polar  bears.  This  is  the 
land  of  the  fierce  and  adventurous  Norsemen,  who  were  the 
terror  of  the  seas,  and  adjacent  countries,  more  than  a  thous- 
and years  ago,  and  here  is  a  display  of  very  old  weapons, 
either  the  same,  or  similar  to  those  used  by  them.  Among 
them  is  a  cross-bow  of  steel  about  two  feet  long,  that  must 
have  required  great  strength  to  draw  it,  an  old  musket  inlaid 
with  pearl,  having  a  flint  lock,  which  turns  with  a  crank, — an- 
cient battle  axes  with  carved  handles,  immense  swords  seem- 
ingly for  both  hands,  the  blades  about  five  feet  long,  and  the 
handles  one  foot  in  length, — one  with  blade  cerrated.  There 
are  also  books,  rope,  cloths,  oils,  porcelain  and  glassware,  up- 
right pianos,  rather  small  but  well  finished,  filigree  silver 
jewelry,  and  wax  figures  showing  the  features  and  costume 
of  a  Laplander.  He  is  dressed  in  a  blue  coat  embroidered  with 
red  and  yellow,  a  cap  with  an  arrangement  on  the  top  which 
looks  like  a  small  pillow,  green  stockings  and  moccasins,  and 


64  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

heavy  fur  gloves.  He  has  long  coarse  hair,  sunken  eyes, 
broad  cheek  bones,  large  mouth,  and  by  no  stretch  of  the 
imagination  could  be  called  handsome. 

From  Sweden  we  notice  fine  porcelain,  glass  and  earthen 
ware,  magnificent  vases,  terra  cotta  work,  cutlery,  wall  paper, 
fine  cloths  and  furs,  all  kinds  of  tools,  a  splendid  display  of 
iron  ores,  nails,  iron  castings  and  car  wheels.  An  object  that 
attracts  much  notice,  is  an  immense  stuffed  stag,  about  nine 
feet  in  length.  He  has  been  brought  down  upon  his  knees, 
by  a  rifle  ball  in  his  side;  while  standing  by  looking  at  him, 
are  two  Swedish  men  and  a  woman,  life-size  figures  in  wax, — 
one  of  the  men  holding  a  rifle.  The  group  are  remarkably 
life  like  in  appearance,  and  the  position  of  the  noble  old  stag 
is  so  natural,  that  you  involuntarily  pity  him  in  his  dying 
agony. 

Here  is  a  meteorite  from  Greenland,  weighing  over  six  tons, 
which  looks  like  amass  of  copper  ore,  and  is  said  to  belong  to 
the  tertiary  formation,  which  relates  back  to  a  time,  untold 
ages  before  man  inhabited  the  earth.  It  is  valued  at  $7,000. 

Sweden  was  once  a  formidable  warlike  power,  and  for  a 
long  time  had  much  to  do  in  making  the  history  of  Europe. 
We  see  here  a  wax  figure  showing  the  uniform  of  her  soldiers 
in  1632,  in  the  time  of  Gustavus  Adolplius  II.  The  uniform 
consists  of  a  helmet  of  steel,  a  large  white  linen  collar,  broad 
leather  sword  belt,  blue  sash,  heavy  metal  breastplate,  buck- 


l\ 


A    Deer  Made  of    Spikes,  and    a    Curious    Kthnological    Ornament  in. 
Swedish    Department. 


THE  EGYPTIAN  DEPARTMENT.  67 

skin  gloves  and  girdle,  blue  breeches  and  stockings,  heavy 
low  shoes,  and  the  weapons  were  a  spear,  and  a  battle  axe 
having  a  blade  on  each  side.  Here  is  an  Esquimaux  canoe 
made  of  skins,  about  twenty  feet  long,  and  eighteen  inches 
wide  on  top,  sharply  pointed  at  each  end,  and  very  lightly 
but  strongly  constructed.  There  is  a  hole  in  the  middle 
large  enough  to  admit  the  body  of  the  occupant,  who  sits  in 
the  bottom  of  the  boat,  and  wears  a  garment  which  is  fast- 
ened water  tight  around  the  opening  in  the  boat.  A  little 
frame  in  front  supports  his  harpoon  and  coil  of  hide,  his  spear 
is  by  his  side,  and  he  is  provided  with  a  short  oar  with  paddle 
at  each  end.  Every  part  of  it  is  so  light,  that  a  man  could 
easily  shoulder  the  whole  outfit,  and  yet  it  is  strong  enough 
to  ride  upon  the  roughest  seas. 

We  will  now  turn  our  steps  to  old  Egypt, — the  cradle  of 
our  race,  whose  past  is  o'ershadowed  with  the  dim  mists  of 
antiquity.  Wonderful  to  say,  this  fossilized  country  has  act- 
ual]}' possessed  the  enterprise  to  build  a  stately  front  on  the 
main  aisle  of  the  building,  something  like  the  Spanish,  which 
is  suggestive,  in  the  color  of  its  decorations,  and  the  style  of 
its  construction,  of  the  old  Egyptian  civilization,  which  flour- 
ished in  the  infancy  of  the  world.  On  this  front  are  painted 
these  cheery  and  neighborly  words, 

"Tl>p  olilest  people  of  the  world  sends  its  morning  greeting  to  the 
youngest  nation." 

In  return  for  this  courteous   salutation,  we  hope  the  Ex- 


6b        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

position  may  be  the  means  of  infusing  some  of  the  enterprise, 
and  intelligence  of  this  western  world,  into  the  benumbed 
system  of  our  venerable  neighbor.  It  is  not  strange,  that  in 
this  new  country,  we  have  a  passion  for  something  antiquated; 
we  have  wealth,  luxury,  refinement,  the  arts,  architectural  ex- 
cellence, fine  cities,  elegant  homes,  and  spacious  temples,  but 
we  have  not  age,  and  so  we  have  naturally  a  craving  to  see 
the  old,  old  relics  and  vestiges  of  ages  and  peoples  which 
flourished  thousands  of  years  ago.  We  see  here  a  model  of 
the  largest  pyramid,  situated  near  Cairo,  built  4,000  years 
B.C.,  which  gives  a  clear  conception  of  the  magnitude  of  those 
massive  structures.  .  The  pyramid  is  470  feet  in  height,  cover- 
ing about  thirteen  acres.  The  model  is  about  two  feet  square, 
in  height  about  the  same,  and  is  covered  by  steps  about  one- 
eighth  of  an  inch  in  height  from  base  to  summit.  The  real 
stepson  the  pyramid  are  described  by  travelers  as  nearly  breast 
high  to  an  ordinary  man,  and  the  same  in  width.  And  here 
we  see  a  bust  of  the  builder;  the  man  who  could  command 
one  hundred  thousand  poor,  toiling  subjects,  to  spend  their 
weary  lives  in  erecting  this  senseless  pile,  a  monument  both 
of  his  despotic  power,  and  supreme  folly.  The  bust  shows  a 
pleasing  face,  regular  features,  a  small  head  and  body,  with 
square  shoulders,  and  a  physique  very  much  unlike  the  beef- 
eating  Briton,  and  beer  loving  Teuton  of  these  latter  days. 
Here  are  old  silver  ornaments,  bracelets  for  the  wrists,  arms 


TUNISIAN  FABRICS  AND  KMBROIDERY.     (p.  76.) 


THE  EGYPTIAN  DEPARTMENT.  71 

and  ankles,  about  two  inches  wide,  and  perhaps  worn  by  the 
Egyptian  belles,  before  the  decalogue  was  given  to  man, 
amid  the  thunders  of  Sinai.  There  is  a  complete  photograph- 
ed copy  of  the  Koran  here,  about  an  inch  and  a  half  in  length, 
an  inch  wide,  and  half  an  inch  thick;  but  it  requires  a  magni- 
fying glass  to  read  it. 

Here,  also,  we  see  the  bust  of  an  Ethiopian  queen,  who 
lived  900  years  B.  C.  The  type  of  features  seems  to  resemble 
the  Egyptian  very  strongly,  the  same  flat  eyes,  high,  arched 
brows,  broad  nose,  thick  lips,  and  oval  face,  but  yet  the  fea- 
tures are  beautiful,  and  the  expression  pleasing.  We  see  an 
old  Arabic  door,  made  of  ebony  and  ivory;  and  belonging  to 
a  mosque  of  the  fourteenth  century.  It  is  covered  with  irreg- 
ular, carved  blocks  of  ivory;  and  has  the  appearance  of  great 
age.  It  is  very  small  for  a  work  of  such  elaborate  finish,  be- 
ing only  about  two  and  a  half  feet  wide,  and  six  feet  high. 
We  see  here  excellent  specimens  of  maps,  lithographs,  engrav- 
ings, and  books. 

In  the  Bible,  the  wild  boar  is  alluded  to  as  one  of  the  fierc- 
est of  beasts;  and  these  tusks  are  most  convincing  proofs  of 
that  fact;  for  they  are  at  least  six  inches  long,  and  an  inch  and 
a  half  broad,  and  have  a  most  savage  look  about  them. 

Here  is  a  tusk  of  that  terrible  animal  the  hippopotamus; 
which  is  about  sixteen  inches  long,  and  three  inches  in  diam- 


72  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GEEAT  EXPOSITION. 

eter  at  the  base;  and  which  is   quite  strong  enough  to    thrust 
into  a  tree,  as  he  is  said  to  do  when  angry. 

This  fine,  reddish  colored  cloth,  is  woven  from  the  bark  of 
the  wild  fig  tree. 

In  Egypt,  the  camel  and  dromedaries  are  as  great  a  con- 
venience as  the  railroad  trains  are  with  us;  and  here  we  see 
their  saddles,  embroidered  with  gilt  lace,  and  looking  very 
comfortable  and  inviting.  These  slabs  of  rough  boulders, 
which  are  about  two  feet  long,  and  one  foot  wide,  and  are 
carved  like  the  ornamental  border  of  a  page  filled  with 
Arabic  characters,  are  grave-stones  from  Abyssinia. 

The  Egyptians  have  from  time  immemorial,  been  lovers  of 
luxury  and  splendor,  and  the  passion  lingers  yet,  for  here  we 
see  a  table  cover,  magnificently  embroidered  with  gold,  worth 
$4,000;  and  a  jacket,  and  mantle,  of  exquisite  richness,  orna- 
mented with  feathers  from  peacocks,  and  other  birds  of  bril- 
liant plumage,  which  would  entirely  throw  into  the  shade, 
any  costume  ever  dreamed  of  on  our  shores. 

For  toy  part,  I  never  expected  to  gaze  upon  the  features 
of  that  Pharaoh  who  so  vexed  Moses,  and  the  children  of 
Israel,  by  his  inconstant  pranks,  about  1,350  years  B.  C. ;  but 
here  he  is  represented  by  this  bust,  the  original  of  which  was 
found  in  Egypt.  He  is  shown  as  a  young  man,  and  however 
hard  his  heart  may  have  been,  he  certainly  had  a  most  en- 
gaging countenance,  if  this  is  a  correct  likeness.  The  face 


^iijKI'W^^K- . 


*»» 
mH 

',V"« 


TUNISIAN    JUGS,    VASES,    CUPS    AND    DRUM.     (p.  76.) 


THE  TUNIS  DEPARTMENT.  75 

is  oval  and  regular,  the  eyes  slightly  flattened,  the  nose  large, 
and  the  mouth  and  chin  small  and  delicate.  The  bust  repre- 
sents a  large  person,  and  is  probably  larger  than  life  size;  the 
upper  part  of  the  head  is  high,  signifying  a  large  brain,  and 
a  head-dress  is  worn,  which  is  ornamented  in  front  with 
figures  of  serpents. 

Such  are  some  of  the  most  remarkable  objects  in  this  in- 
teresting department,  which  are  suggestive  of  the  dim  past, 
and  lure  the  mind  and  imagination  back  to  dynasties,  and 
civilizations,  long  since  forgotten. 

Not  very  far  from  this,  we  find  the  section  allotted  to 
Tunis,  and  here  we  perceive  an  object  of  rare  interest.  It  is 
a  part  of  the  pavement  of  a  temple  in  Carthage,  dedicated  to 
Diana.  This  fragment  is  about  ten  feet  long,  and  seven  feet 
high,  and  is  but  a  very  small  portion  of  a  once  spacious  floor, 
but  such  was  its  brittleness,  owing  to  its  extreme  age,  that 
only  this  perfect  specimen  could  be  taken  up.  It  represents 
a  huge,  fierce  lion,  with  tail  lashing  with  fury,  glaring  eyes, 
and  defiant  attitude;  the  body  of  a  dull  purple  color,  the 
eyes  black,  and  the  mane  of  a  reddish  shade.  All  this  is 
made  by  thousands  of  stones  of  different  colors,  about  half  an 
inch  square,  which  are  laid  in  Mosaic,  and  closely  fitted  to- 
gether. A  critic  says  of  it,  that  "  the  boldness  of  design,  and 
the  wonderful  attitude  and  coloring,  assign  to  it  the  most 
flourishing  period  of  Carthage;"  and  it  suggests  the  extra- 


76  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

ordinary  wealth  aiid  splendor  of  those  ancient  powers,  when 
such  exquisite  work  as  this  was  made  to  be  trodden  upon  on 
the  floors  of  their  temples. 

Near  this  are  some  farming  implements,  which  show  that 
those  remains  of  former  grandeur,  do  not  inspire  much  enter- 
prise in  the  men  who  vegetate  about  them;  for  here  we  see 
a  rake  made  of  rough  pieces  of  wood  fastened  together;  a 
pitchfork,  which  is  merely  a  forked  sapling,  with  the  bark 
taken  off;  a  plow  made  of  a  crooked  bough  of  a  tree,  with 
sharp,  iron  point  in  front  to  scratch  the  ground,  and  a  small 
handle  to  hold  it;  a  shovel,  which  is  but  a  wooden  blade,  fas- 
tened to  a  stick;  and  a  threshing  machine,  resembling  a  stone 
boat,  with  a  few  slats  of  iron  stuck  in  the  bottom,  on  the 
front  and  sides,  with  rows  of  flints  set  in  between.  This  is 
drawn  over  the  scattered  grain  by  oxen,  and  bruises  it  until 
the  kernels  are  separated.  The  Bey  of  Tunis  has  sent  a 
case  of  weapons,  muskets,  swords,  and  pistols,  finely  finished 
and  inlaid  with  silver  and  pearls.  There  are  also  very  bril- 
liant silks,  and  gold  embroidery  on  caps,  slippers,  jackets,  and 
belts.  In  a  show  case,  there  is  a  richly  chased  silver  table 
service,  and  a  collection  of  old  battle  axes,  helmets,  shields, 
swords,  cim'eters,  and  spears,  which  look  as  if  they  were  used 
centuries  ago. 

Suppose  we  now  take  a  walkthrough  the  Chinese  depart- 
ment. This  is  one  of  the  most  crowded  places  in  the  build- 


VIEW   IN   CHINESE:    DEPARTMENT. 


THE  CHINESE  DEPARTMENT.  79 

ing,  so  interesting  and  brilliant  are  the  objects  exhibited. 
For  instance  here  is  a  screen,  the  frame  of  which  is  made  of 
richly  carved  black  wood, — the  inside  being  of  colored  silk  on 
which  is  painted  quaint  designs  of  birds,  with  wonderfully  long 
tails, — queer  looking  shrubs  and  flowers  all  in  the  most  gorge- 
ous coloring;  or  see  those  pictures  of  warlike  and  fanciful  scenes 
in  lacquer  work;  or  those  large  and  beautiful  porcelain  vases  of 
such  delicate  coloring;  or  these  pieces  of  exquisite  embroidery 
on  colored  silk,  and  shawls;  or  this  magnificent  parlor-set  in 
black  wood,  artistically  carved,  and  upholstered  with  the  rich- 
est figured  green  silk,  making  it  fit  for  the  palace  of  a  Croesus; 
or  these  stately  figured  brocades,  and  exquisite  white  fans 
covered  with  birds  and  flowers  in  rapturous  colors,  delicate 
enough  for  a  fairy  to  flutter.  Wherever  we  go,  there  is  a 
maze  of  this  wonderful  lacquer  work,  of  painting  on  silk  and 
screens,  curious  carving,  fantastic  designs  on  porcelain,  and 
rich  furniture.  But  one  of  the  most  appalling  pieces  of  work, 
is  a  carved  bedstead,  which  took  fifteen  men  three  years  to 
finish, — equal  to  one  long  life  of  constant  labor.  It  has  a 
canopy  of  wood  over  it,  on  each  side  of  which,  are  two  battle 
scenes,  the  figures  carved  out  of  wood;  under  the  cornice,  is  a 
wide  fringe  of  wood,  perhaps  sixteen  inches  wide,  made  of 
hard  wood  boards  about  an  inch  and  a  quarter  thick,  and 
these  are  throughout  a  mass  of  the  most  elaborate  carving  of 
small  designs  of  birds,  foliage,  fruits,  and  flowers ;  so  that  when 


80  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

you  see  the  objects  in  the  foreground,  you  can  discern  others 
still  further  back,  making  a  complete  mass  of  the  most  in- 
tricate work.  Then  below  these,  are  four  groups  of  figures 
at  the  corners,  each  one  a  study  by  itself,  and  making  nearly 
the  whole  surface  a  mass  of  carving.  This  is  valued  at  $4,000; 
not  a  high  price  for  forty-five  years  steady  work,  requiring 
such  skillful  labor,  and  artistic  taste. 

Another  wonderful  piece  of  carving,  is  an  ivory  ship,  with 
a  large  company  on  the  deck,  and  in  the  cabin,  engaged  in 
different  amusements  and  occupations,  the  work  looking  as  if 
the  whole  were  carved  from  a  solid  piece  of  ivory. 

_  Japanese  section  is  somewhat  similar  to  the  Chinese. 


Here,  too,  we  see  carving,  lacquer  work,  painting  on  silk,  a 
bedstead  of  black  wood,  the  foot  carved  with  figures  of  fishes, 
and  turtles,  and  the  head  with  a  marine  view  of  rocks,  shells, 
moss  and  turtles. 

There  is  in  that  case,  a  rock  crystal  about  seven  inches  in 
diameter,  which  looks  like  a  solid  piece  of  the  purest  glass, 
and  reflects  everything  upside  down. 

Here  is  a  funny  picture  designed  by  some  Japanese  Land- 
seer,  and  painted  on  silk  in  the  richest  colors.  It  represents 
a  procession  of  foxes  dressed  as  men,  in  gay  attire,  and  walk- 
ing on  their  hind  legs;  some  bearing  merchandise,  standards, 
and  palanquins,  and  having  all  the  airs  arid  importance  of  a 
company  of  dandies. 


CHINESE   SCREENS    AND    INLAID    LACQUER    WORK.    (p.  79.) 


THE  JAPANESE  DBPAETEENT.  83 

We  notice  embroidery  on  silk,  pictures  on  leather,  and  ex- 
quisite screens,  adorned  with  pictures  of  birds  of  gorgeous 
plumage,  all  having  the  most  brilliant  combination  of  colors; 
also,  wonderful  carving,  and  medallions  in  ivory  with 
porcelain,  covered  with  the  most  delicate  designs;  a  shal- 
low bowl  of  this  ware,  about  four  feet  in  diameter,  is  cov- 
ered with  a  mass  of  fanciful  figuring  of  birds,  foliage  and 
flowers,  and  is  priced  at  $300;  immense  vases,  about 
ten  feet  high  are  valued  at  $2,500  each.  Horses  are  used  but 
little  in  Japan,  so  that  most  of  their  traveling  carriages  are 
drawn  by  hand.  Here  are  some  of  them,  which  look  very 
much  like  large  baby-wagons.  They  have  boxes  about  four 
feet  long,  are  on  springs,  are  covered,  and  wide  enough  for 
one  person  to  sit  in  easily,  and  give  one  an  impression  of  com- 
fort. Persons  from  Japan  say,  that  the  men  who  make  it  a 
business  to  draw  these  vehicles,  are  nearly  as  swift  as  horses, 
some  have  drawn  them  seventy  miles  a  day ;  but  their  roads 
are  as  hard  and  smooth  as  a  floor.  Here  are  gongs  that  look 
something  like  a  banjo,  and  a  musical  instrument  made  of 
richly  carved  ebony  and  ivory,  which  has  thirteen  strings, 
and  a  sounding  board  about  seven  feet  long.  Here  is  a  Chi- 
nese weapon,  supposed  to  be  three  thousand  years  old,  made 
of  brass,  the  handle  plain,  and  the  blade  about  three  feet 
long,  looking  like  a  large  carving  knife. 

Here  are  books,  engravings,  surgical  instruments,  and  cut- 


84        BEN  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

lery,  and  waxwork,  life  size,  which  is  extremely  good,  and  is 
an  accurate  copy  of  the  form  and  complexion  of  the  Japanese. 
There  is  also  iron  armor,  the  cap  also  of  iron,  with  a  wide 
lap  extending  down  on  the  shoulders,  and  looking  like  a 
sailor's  oil-skin  cap. 

The  little  kingdom  of  the  Sandwich  Islands  has  an  in- 
teresting section,  in  which  we  see  a  case  of  articles  sent  by 
Queen  Emma.  In  it  are  large  circular  wooden  boxes,  highly 
polished,  plumes  of  gaily  colored  feathers,  calabashes,,  an  old 
pipe,  which  looks  as  if  it  had  descended  from  former  gener- 
ations, and  a  cape  made  of  black,  yellow,  and  red  feathers, 
woven  in  a  fabric.  Here  are  beautiful  specimens  of  coral, — 
of  lava  from  volcanoes, — a  stalk  of  sugar  cane  twenty-six 
feet  in  length;  and  a  model  of  a  native  brig  made  without 
nails,  but  fastened  together  with  thongs,  the  bottom,  ends, 
and  sides  being  separate  pieces,  and  the  sails  made  of  matting. 

A  necklace  is  shown  which  was  made  by  braiding  about 
fifty  human  hairs  together  in  a  cord,  no  larger  than  small 
wire,  done  in  the  neatest  manner  imaginable,  and  as  there  is 
a  large  coil  of  this,  it  must  have  been  a  work  of  infinite  pa- 
tience and  labor.  Here  is  a  queer  cloak  worn  by  bird  catch- 
ers, which  is  made  by  tying  bunches  of  long  grass  to  netting, 
one  tuft  overlapping  another,  making  a  thatched  covering. 

We  see  a  very  handsome  table,  inlaid  with  native  many- 
colored  woods;  cases  of  stuffed  birds,  of  red,  green,  and  yel- 


CURIOUS    CHINESE    CARVED     FURNITURE,    (p.  79.) 


DEPABTMENT  OF  SOUTH  AMEBICA.  87 

low  plumage;  and  samples  of  rice,  sugar,  jute,  and  other  ar- 
ticles of  production.  The  very  intelligent  gentleman  in 
charge  informs  us,  that  the  population  is  but  fifty  or  sixty 
thousand,  and  constantly  decreasing;  that  a  good  system  of 
schools  is  established,  and  that  the  country  is  becoming  more 
and  more  civilized,  according  to  our  standard,  but  that  civil- 
ization has  brought  with  it  vices  and  diseases,  which  threaten 
to  exterminate  the  race  unless  checked. 

Let  us  now  turn  our  steps  to  South  America,  and  we 
find  in  the  section  allotted  to  Chili,  excellent  books,  maps, 
and  drawings,  tables  beautifully  inlaid  with  rich,  native 
woods,  and  samples  of  fine  marble. 

In  Peru  there  is  a  Panama  hat  which  is  almost  as  white 
and  fine  as  if  of  linen,  the  price  of  which  is  $300.  There  is 
a  most  interesting  piece  of  carving  in  sulphite  of  stone,  cut 
three  hundred  years  ago  by  native  Peruvians.  It  represents 
the  descent  of  Christ  from  the  cross, — three  men  are  taking 
down  the  body,  while  a  woman  is  supporting  the  feet.  Mary, 
the  mother  of  Christ,  stands  by  with  clasped  hands,  looking 
at  the  bruised  form,  while  another  woman  is  prostrate  on  the 
ground  with  arms  outstretched,  as  if  in  a  paroxysm  of  grief 
and  despair.  The  figures  are  somewhat  crude,  to  be  sure,  but 
yet  they  express  a  wonderful  conception  of  the  subject,  when 
we  consider  who  the  artists  were.  The  figures  are  small,  be- 
ing only  several  inches  in  height. 


88        '  BEH  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

We  see  also  a  Peruvian  mummy,  supposed  to  be  three 
thousand  years  old,  a  hideous  looking  object,  blackened  and 
shriveled,  the  hair  still  preserved,  and  the  tatooing  on  the 
wrist  yet  visible.  The  remains  are  those  of  a  female,  and  her 
shells,  beads,  iron  ornaments,  and  long  needles,  as  if  for  em- 
broidery, were  buried  with  her,  -ready  for  use  in  the  land 
whither  she  had  departed.  Some  are  found  in  earthen  jars, 
some  in  wicker  caskets,  bound  in  coarse  cloth  like  matting. 
Some  have  teeth  like  tusks,  arid  must  have  been  fearful  look- 
ing creatures.  They  are  supposed  to  have  been  the  founders 
of  the  Incas  race.  The  greater  part  of  the  space  is  taken  up 
with  the  relics  of  the  aboriginal  races,  although  there  are  fine 
samples  of  wool,  wines,  and  ores. 

The  Argentine  Republic  makes  a  very  creditable  display 
of  leather,  saddles,  jars,  beautiful  tapestry,  books,  hair- work, 
wax  flowers,  laces,  needle-work,  and  inlaid  tables,  which  in- 
dicate a  great  scope  of  •ingenuity  and  enterprise. 

The  little  Orange  'Free  State,  the  youngest  nation  in  the 
world,.!  think,  has  an  interesting  department,  in  which  are 
shown  fine  specimens ,  of  leather,  harness,  ivory,  ostrich 
feathers,  and  eggs,  stuffed  birds  of  the  most .  brilliant  colors, 
corals,  and  native  woods  of  many  beautiful  varieties. 

This  completes  our  visit  to  the  departments  of  the  different 
countries  in  the  main  building. 

But  hear  those  shouts  of  laughter,  peal  following  peal,  the 


CURIOUS     PORCELAIN      VASES,     (p.  83.) 


WORLD  TREASURES  OP  THE  MAIN  BUILDING.  yj- 

chorus  led  by  the  hoarse  baying  of  some  veteran  in  the  war- 
fare of  life,  mingled  with  shrill  concatenations,  boisterous 
outbursts  from  loud-voiced  boys,  mellowed  by  the  silvery 
singing  of  girlish  voices, — a  perfect  tornado  of  hilarity,  as  if 
all  the  mischievous  imps  of  jollity  had  been  let  loose  at  once. 
Let  us  hasten  with  the  hope  that  we  may  become  likewise 
infected,  and  that  our  aching  limbs  and  blistered  feet  may 
for  a  brief  respite  be  forgotten,  and  the  huge  arches  above 
us  be  rent  in  twain  by  the  magnitude  of  our  guffaws.  We 
discover  the  cause  of  this  irrepressible  mirth,  and  we  find 
that  it  consists  in  concave  and  convex  mirrors,  placed  side  by 
side  on  one  of  the  main  aisles,  and  in  one  moment  you  are 
contracted  to  a  walking  spindle,  at  the  next  you  are  broader 
than  Dicken's  Fat  Boy,  or  the  celebrated  Daniel  Lambert. 

Here  we  see  an  exquisite  statue  of  the  Queen  of  Portugal, 
in  marble,  a  calm,  sweet,  refined  face,  full  of  dignity  and  re- 
served power,  her  head-dress  of  rich  lace  work,  admirably  re- 
presented in  the  marble,  the  whole  a  beautiful  piece  of  work. 
There  is  here  an  elevator  which  is  driven  by  this  little  steam- 
engine  near  it,  which  is  as  large  as  a  small  room,  and  will 
carry  thirty  or  forty  persons  at  once.  As  we  ascend,  we 
gain  a  splendid  view  of  the  whole  building  as  we  look  down 
over  the  gay  spectacle,  and  we  gradually  withdraw  from  the 
ceaseless  din,  the  steady  roar  of  the  immense  multitude  be- 
low. On  the  top  of  the  building  is  a  beautiful  view  of  the  sur- 


92        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION". 

rounding  country,  the  Schuylkill  river,  which  gleams  like  a 
thread  of  silver  through  the  waving  forest;  and  between,  the 
grassy  hills, — villas,  forests,  and  ridges  glide  away  in  the  dis- 
tance as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  No  more  beautiful  spot 
could  have  been  selected  for  the  great  Exposition;  and  with 
our  mind  exhilarated  by  the  inspiration  of  these  natural 
beauties,  we  will  descend  and  take  our  leave  of  this  wonderful 
department. 
And  now  we  will  pass  to 


The  Annex  to  the  Main  Building. 


We  find  this  to  be  a  large  building  filled  with  carriages,  coach- 
es, sleighs,  domestic  utensils,  cars,  engines,  toys  and  machin- 
ery. A  comparison  of  English  carriages,  with  ours,  shows 
theirs  to  be  clumsier;  in  fact  many  of  them  are  very  heavy  and 
cumbersome. 

>  The  following  commission  framed  and  hung  up,  shown  by 
Messrs.  Adams  &  Hooper,  who  are  exhibitors,1  shows  how  the 
poor  carriage  makers  hang  on  princes  favor.  It  smacks  of 
red  tape  and  sealing  Wax  surely  t 

"I,  Wm.  Geo.,  Earl  of  Erroll,  Master  of  the  Horse  to  the 
Queen,  do  hereby  appoint  Messrs.  Adams   &   Hooper  to  be 


SCENE    FROM   TOP  OF    MAIN    BUILDING. 


THE  AtflTEX  TO  THE  MAIN  BUILDING.  95 

coach  makers  to  the  establishment  of  her    Majesty's  stables 
during  my  pleasure. 

"  The  quality  and  price  of  all  articles  supplied  to  this  de- 
partment will  be  strictly  enquired  into.  The  bill  must  be 
made  up  and  delivered  quarterly,  to  be  examined  and  put  in 
course  of  payment,  and  no  Fee,  Perquisite,  or  Poundage  is  to 
be  given  to  the  Clerk  of  her  Majesty's  Stables,  or  to  any  other 
person  whatsoever. 

Given  under  my  hand,  this  19th  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 1830,  in  the  first  year  of  her  Majesty's 

[  SEAL.  ]         reign. 
(Signed)  "ERROLL." 

Russia  exhibits  some  exceedingly  fine  work,  amongst  others 
a  cutter,  worth  $230,  made  of  ornamental  wood  and  highly 
finished. 

New  England  in  the  Olden  Times. 


Life  in  the  olden  time,  in  the  days  of  the  Puritans,  has 
been  invested  with  such  a  halo  of  poetic  interest  by  Longfel- 
low, and  other  of  our  poets,  that  anything  which  gives  us  a 
true  conception  of  it,  is  sure  to  be  a  great  center  of  attraction. 
And  so,  when  we  see  this  log  house,  with  wide,  overhanging 
gables,  small  windows,  and  a  rude  but  strong  plank  door, — 
the  front  yard  gaily  adorned  by  Sweet  Williams,  and  the 


96        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

favorite  posies  of  the  long  ago,  and  such  a  large  crowd  so 
anxious  to  gain  admission,  that  it  is  necessary  to  have  a  bar 
across  the  gateway,  and  a  policeman  to  keep  back  the  throng, 
except  at  stated  times,  when  he  lifts  up  the  bar,  and  allows 
such  a  limited  number  to  pass  through,  as  not  to  choke  up 
the  small  rooms, —  I  say,  when  we  see  all  this,  we  do  not  much 
wonder  when  we  find  that  it  is  a  reproduction  of  the  old 
fashioned,  genuine  New  England  Home.  We  regard  it  with 
veneration,  and  enter  it  with  reverence;  for  out  of  such  homes 
have  passed  the  men  who  have  shaped  and  moulded  the  in- 
stitutions of  our  country;  have  founded  its  colleges;  made  its 
laws:  organized  its  states  and  municipalities,  and  made  the 
wilderness  to  blossom  as  the  rose.  We  pass  through  the  low 
narrow  door,  and  see  the  first  thing,  an  old  Almanac  hanging 
on  the  wall.  Now  in  those  days,  the  almanac  was  an  im- 
portant part  of  family  literature,  and  not  only  contained  a 
calendar  showing  the  time,  but  also  wise  proverbs,  quaint  say- 
ings, and  wholesome  moral  instruction.  It  may  be  a  long 
.time  beiore  we  see  so  old  an  almanac  again,  so  let  us  examine 
it  more  closely,  and  we  shall  see  that  it  is  a  curiosity  indeed. 
The  title  page  begins  "Almanac  for  year  of  our  Lord  Christ 
1744,  and  from  the  creation  of  the  world,  according  to  the 
best  of  prophane  history,  5694,  and  by  the  account  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  5646,  by  Nathaniel  Ames;"  followed  by  this 
poetic  effusion: 


NEW  ENGLAND  IN  THE  OLDEN  TIME.          97 

"This  little  book  serves  well  to  help  you  date, 
And  settle  many  petty  worldly  things : 
Think  on  the  day  writ  in  the  book  of  fate 
Which  your  own  final  Dissolution  brings. 
Millions  have  died  the  year  thats  past  and  gone, 
And  millions  more  must  in  the  year  to  come." 

On  entering  the  room,  we  see  the  cradle  in  which  Peregrine 
White  was  rocked,  who  was  born  on  the  Mayflower.  It  is 
made  of  oak,  the  sides  and  ends  being  rude  panels,  and  has  a 
canopy  supported  by  small  turned  spindles,  and  looks  durable 
enough  to  last  for  many  generations  to  come.  We  can  judge 
of  the  simple  habits  of  life  in  those  days,  by  this  wooden 
platter  200  years  old,  which  was  in  constant  use  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  which  is  so  plain  and  rude,  that  any 
rough  craftsman  could  hew  one  out  of  a  block. 

Near  it,  we  see  an  old  flax  wheel  also  200  years  old.  One 
of  the  ladies  in  charge  tells  us,  that  several  days  ago,  a  very 
old  man  came  in, and  seeing  this  wheel  exclaimed:  "Why,  this 
is  just  like  the  one  my  mother  used  to  have!" — and  his  mind 
was  carried  back  so  vividly  to  the  past,  that  he  burst  into 
tears,  and  could  not  control  his  emotion. 

Here  is  a  Revolutionary  flag,  which  was  borne  in  two  reg- 
iments in  the  Revolutionary  war.  It  is  tattered  and  faded 
now,  but  must  have  been  very  beautiful  when  new.  It  is 
about  three  feet  square,  made  of  blue  silk,  with  heavy  gilt 
fringe,  with  a  finely  painted  design  of  an  eagle  bearing  a 
shield,  also  stars,  and  sunbeams,  and  a  branch  of  holly,  and 


98        BEN  BEVEELY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

the  motto,  UE  pluribus  unum."     On  a  shelf  is  a  silver  teapot, 
plain  and  of  moderate  size,  which  was  used  by  La  Fayette  in 
Boston;  and  there  are  also  specimens   of  old  blue  porcelain 
covered  with  fantastic  figures  and  designs,  like  those  in  which 
our  grandmothers  took  so  much  pride. 

It  is  strange  what  an  interest  gathers  around  these  relics 
of  the  olden  time.  This  is  the  writing  desk  of  John  Alden, 
that  Puritan  immortalized  by  the  genius  of  Longfellow  in 
the  poem  of  "  The  Courtship  of  Miles  Standish."  It  was 
brought  in  the  Mayflower  and  is  very  small,  being  only 
about  two  feet  high,  a  little  more  in  length,  and  about 
ten  inches  in  width.  It  is  made  of  some  dark  colored 
ornamental  wood,  has  pigeon  holes,  and  two  small  drawers 
with  large  brass  plates  for  handles,  and  large  iron  hinges. 

Here  is  Grov.  Endicott's  chair,  two  hundred  years  old,  very 
plain,  and  made  of  some  sort  of  black  wood. 

On  the  wall  is  a  deed  signed  by  the  sons  of  William  Penn, 
in  1737.  No  printed  blanks  or  short  forms  in  those  days,  for 
the  large  sheet  is  closely  covered  by  fine  writing,  in  a  precise, 
legal  hand,  and  adorned  with  all  the  technical  verbiage  which 
characterizes  old  forms  of  legal  documents. 

There  are  few  of  us  who  are  young,  who  have  seen  an  old- 
fashioned  fireplace,  but  who  has  not  heard  or  read  descrip- 
tions of  them.  Here  is  one  with  all  its  appendages, — the 
iron  crane,  with  liberal  facilities  for  numerous  pots  and  ket- 


NEW  ENGLAND  IN  THE  OLDEN  TIME.  99 

ties,  (for  we  must  remember  they  had  large  families  in  those 
days)  its  ample  recesses  large  enough  for  huge  logs  to  burn 
in,  and  the  whole  family  to  gather  around;  the  andiron,  fry- 
ing pan,  bellows,  the  shelf  above,  on  which  is  arranged  the 
pewter,  the  candlesticks,  and  many  other  articles  of  domestic 
use,  while  above  it  is  swung  the  trusty  rifle,  powder  horn  and 
shot  pouch,  and  yet  above  are  strings  of  dried  apples  and 
pumpkins,  which  are  hung  in  graceful  curves. 

But  we  find  that  the  almanac  did  not  exhaust  all  the  lit- 
erary aspirations  of  those  days,  for  we  see  a  large  printed 
sheet,  on  which  appears  "A  funeral  elegy  occasioned  by  the 
tragedy  of  ten  persons  drowned  at  sea."  It  has  a  lugubrio.us 
aspect,  for  at  the  top  are  a  row  of  dismal  black  coffins,  as  if  to 
prepare  the  reader  for  the  sad  recital  which  follows,  and  thus 
it  proceeds  giving  us  one  of  the 


Specimen  Poem  of  Colonial  Times. 


Awake  my  muse,  and  tune  the  song 

To  harp  a  doleful  sound, 
Enough  to  melt  the  mournful  throng 

Which  echoes  o'er  the  ground. 

What  heart  but  feels  the  heavy  stroke 
Sent  by  God's  awful  hand, 

When  ten  poor  souls  were  lately  cast 
Ashore  upon  the  sands. 


100       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

Yes,  ten  poor  souls  I've  heard  them  say, 

Went  lately  to  the  bottom ; 
Salem,  O  let  it  not  be  said 

Their  names  were  e'er  forgotten. 

Hark,  hark,  we  hear  the  passing  bell 

Along  as  they  do  go, 
Traveler  stop,  and  shed  a  tear, 

This  is  a  scene  of  woe. 

But  we  will  turn  from  this  painful  narrative,  and  regale 
ourselves  with  a  few  specimen  verses  from  some  irrepressible 
bard  of  martial  tastes,  who  thus  inspires  his  comrades  by  his 
rollicking  rhymes,  which  are  entitled: 


The  Song  of  the  Minute-man. 


"  Come  rise  up  brother  minute-men,  and  let  us  have  a  corous, 

the  bravei  and  the  bolder,  the  more  they  will  adore  us ; 

oure  countrj  cals  for  Swords  and  Bals  and  Drums  Aloud  Doth  rattle, 

our  fifers'  charmes,  arise  to  arms,  Liberty  cals  to  battle." 

"  We  have  some  noble  Congressmen,  elected  for  our  nurses ; 
and  every  joly  farmer  will  assist  us  with  their  purses, 
we  let  them  stay  at  home  we  say,  enjoy  their  wives  with  Pleasure ; 
and  we  will  go  and  fight  oure  foes  and  save  their  lives  and  treasure." 

"  And  when  we  Do  return  Again  it  will  be  with  Glory, 

for  them  that  do  remain  at  home  to  hear  a  valyant  story; 

they  will  draw  nere  and  glad  to  hear  not  Doubting  of  the  wonder 

that  minute  men,  though  one  to  ten,  should  bring  the  tories  under." 

This  too,  was  printed  on  a  large  sheet  as  if  made  to  frame; 
and  thus  its  patriotic  spirit  be  transmitted  to  posterity.     The         * 
New  England  Home  would  not  be  complete,  unless  the  wo- 


UNCLE  SAM'S  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  101 

men  of  the  olden  time  were  represented;  and  here  they  are 
with  immense,  starched,  white  net  caps  high  behind,  and 
trimmed  with  gay  ribbons,  wide  Vandyke  capes  or  collars  of 
white  material,  and  gaily  figured  dresses  with  very  short 
sleeves,  and  skirts  of  different  colors;  all  making  a  jaunty  and 
picturesque  costume.  What  garrets  must  have  been  ran- 
sacked, what  trunks  and  band-boxes,  venerable  with  the  dust 
of  decades,  must  have  been  ruthlessly  despoiled,  and  their 
forgotten  contents  resurrected,  in  order  to  revive  in  this  Cen- 
tennial year  the  wholesome  memories  of  the  olden  time. 


Uncle  Sam's  Government  Building. 


This  building,  though  moderate  in  size,  when  compared 
with  the  main  building,  is  yet  a  large  one,  and  filled  with  ar- 
ticles of  great  interest. 

Let  us  notice  some  of  the  most  remarkable  of  these.  Here  are 
wonderful  sets  of  apparatus  used,  in  the  signal  service  system, 
by  which  the  probable  temperature  of  the  weather  is  fore- 
told. These  models  show  the  different  plans  of  building  light- 
houses; some  to  float  on  the  water,  some  built  on  a  very 
strong  frame-work  of  iron,  and  others  built  of  solid  masonry 
from  the  bottom  of  the  water,  by  means  of  what  is  called  a 


102  BEN  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GEEAT   EXPOSITION. 

coffer  dam,  which  is  a  tight  inclosure  all  around  the  space 
where  the  foundation  is  to  be  laid;  and  then  the  water  is 
pumped  out,  so  that  men  can  work  at  the  bottom. 

Did  you  ever  see  a  revolving  light  from  a  light-house, 
which  can  be  seen  ten  or  fifteen  miles,  and  which  the  sailor 
recognizes  from  the  colors  of  the  light,  and  the  number  of 
revolutions  per  minute?  Here  is  a  very  fine  specimen,  for 
the  most  dangerous  places.  It  is  about  nine  feet  high,  and 
six  feet  wide,  large  enough  for  a  man  to  walk  inside  around  the 
lamp,  which  is  not  very  large,  but  has  a  circular  wick  about 
four  inches  in  diameter.  The  sides  are  octagon,  but  they  are 
not  made  of  plain  plates  of  glass,  but  of  a  great  many  bars 
of  finely  polished  glass,  which  are  placed  at  such  angles,  as  to 
reflect  the  light  in  the  best  manner;  and  these  are  of  differ- 
ent colors  on  each  side.  There  are  about  fourteen  of  these 
large  lamps  used  at  present;  and  they  can  be  seen  for  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  miles. 

One  of  the  most  famous  feats  in  enginering  in  our  day, 
was  that  of  blowing  up  the  submarine  rock  at  Hell  Gate,  on 
East  river,  near  New  York.  Before  this  was  done,  the  depth 
at  low  water  was  only  from  two  to  five  feet,  and  vessels,  to 
avoid  this,  were  in  great  danger  of  being  caught  by  the  cur- 
rent, and  driven  on  rocks  opposite  to  it,  on  the  other  shore. 
When  this  work  is  finished,  and  the  broken  rocks  all  taken 
out,  the  water  will  be  about  thirty  feet  deep,  so  that  the  larg- 


UNCLE  SAM'S  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  105 

est  vessels  can  pass  over.  There  were  about  three  acres  of 
rock  that  were  blown  up,  and  here  is  a  model  that  will  show 
us  how  it  was  done.  The  top  of  the  model  shows  us  this 
coffer  dam  in  a  triangular  form,  the  sides  from  one  hun- 
dred to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  each,  and  also  the 
bottom  of  the  sea,  in  order  to  show  the  shallowness  of  the 
water,  and  what  had  to  be  done.  The  top  of  the  model  can 
be  lifted  up,  and  then  we  see  that  the  rock  below  was 
honey-combed,  and  all  taken  out,  except  columns  about 
twenty-two  feet  square,  at  regular  intervals,  which  were 
were  left  to  sustain  the  roof  of  rock,  on  which  the  water 
rested.  All  the  vast  amount  of  material  which  was  blasted 
out,  as  well  as  water  that  soaked  in,  was  taken  and  pumped 
out  through  the  coffer  dam. 

But  we  will  pass  on,  and  notice  these  long  rows  of  cases, 
containing  models  from  the  Patent  Office  at  Washington. 
Over  those,  how  many  brains  have  ached,  how  many  sleep- 
less nights  have  been  spent,  how  much  poverty  has  been  en- 
dured, how  many  fabulous  fortunes  have  the  sanguine  inven- 
tors seen  in  them,  almost  in  hand,  and  just  ready  to  be  grasped. 

Here  are  case  after  case  of  specimens  of  ores  and  minerals, 
which  would  delight  the  heart  of  a  geologist  or  mineralogist; 
also  stuffed  birds,  animals,  and  fishes.  See  that  immense 
white  polar  bear,  nearly  as  large  as  an  ox,  and  with  such 
thick,  heavy  fur. 


106  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

Here  is  a  case  containing  Wasmngton's  camp  chest,  about 
sixteen  inches  wide  by  twenty-four  in  length,  and  ten  inches 
high, — not  a  very  large  one  for  a  commander-in-chief.  It  is 
covered  by  leather,  and  looks  very  old.  There  are  compart- 
ments for  lamps,  medicines,  and  other  things.  You  see  also  his 
set  of  table  service  while  in  camp.  It  is  of  the  plainest  pewter, 
with  tin  pots  with  wooden  handles.  Here  is  also  his  survey- 
or's compass,  which  he  used  in  early  life,  and  which  looks 
very  much  like  a  common  surveyor's  compass,  now  used. 

In  this  case  are  also  many  other  articles  which  belonged  to 
Washington,  amongst  which  is  a  tea  board,  imported  from 
France,  made  of  ingrain  wood- work  of  neat  pattern ;  a  heavy 
black  thorn  cane,  with  gold  head,  which  was  willed  by  Frank- 
lin to  him;  a  very  plain  table  about  four  feet  long,  and  two 
and  one-half  feet  wide,  of  dark  wood;  bed  curtains  which 
were  embroidered  by  Martha  Washington;  two  pistols,  very 
large  and  heavy,  with  flint  locks;  his  coats  and  breeches, 
which  he  wore  when  he  resigned  his  command  of  the  army, — 
the  coat  made  of  blue  cloth,  the  sleeves  and  facings  trimmed 
with  white,  the  vest  and  breeches  white,  all  having  brass  but- 
tons, and  being  a  very  large  suit,  showing  that  he  must  have 
had  a  large  and  vigorous  frame;  and  a  fanciful  picture,  show- 
ing the  pedigree  of  Washington,  back  hundreds  of  years,  to 
one  of  the  noble  families  of  England. 

Here  is  a  queer  specimen  of  a  boat  made  by  South  Ameri- 


UNCLE  SAM'S  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  107 

can  Indians.  It  is  like  a  large  shallow  washtub,  about  six  feet 
in  diameter,  and  two  feet  deep;  but  is  made  of  a  rough  frame 
of  wood,  with  sewed  skins  stretched  over  it.  There  is  only 
one  oar  with  it,  having  a  paddle  at  each  end.  We  also  notice 
boats  made  by  the  Indians  of  British  Columbia.  This  dug- 
out, which  is  about  thirty  feet  long,  is  made  of  one  log,  and 
very  finely  shaped;  and  those  made  of  birch  bark  are  well  pro- 
portioned, and  skillfully  constructed.  Here  are  wooden  fish- 
hooks made  by  the  Sitka  Indians,  away  up  in  Alaska.  They 
are  five  or  six  inches  long,  and  covered  with  carved  images  of 
such  horrid  appearance,  that  the  fishes  must  be  hungry  in- 
deed, that  could  be  tempted  to  bite  them.  These  large  pieces 
of  bone,  with  pictures  cut  upon  them,  are  teeth  of  the 
Sperm  Whale,  which  have  been  thus  carved  by  sailors  on 
whale  vessels;  and  very  skillfully  has  it  been  done.  Here 
is  a  full  rigged  ship,  sails  all  set,  and  colors  flying; 
there  is  a  figure  of  Bonaparte,  and  others  of  handsome  fe- 
male faces  and  figures.  They  suggest  tedious  hours  and 
thoughts  of  loved  ones  at  home ;  for  poor  Jack  is  proverbially 
noted  for  a  warm  heart. 

This  immense  boat  about  sixty  feet  long  and  eight  feet  wide, 
is  a  dug-out,  made  from  one  tree,  by  the  Indians  of  Vancouvers 
Island.  The  sides  are  left  about  six  inches  thick,  and  it  is 
painted  inside,  and  bordered  with  red;  and  at  the  ends,  are 
painted  rude  heads,  having  large  eyes.  It  is  a  a  fine,  well 


108       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

shaped  boat,  and  looks  as  if  it  would  do  excellent  service. 

Here  is  a  department  showing  the  process  of  making  musk- 
ets; and  amongst  other  things,  is  this  lathe  for  making  the 
stocks.  You  see  there  is  a  pattern  in  the  lathe,  just  like  the 
stock  to  be  made,  and  the  chisel  follows  its  surface,  and  turns 
the  stock  exactly  the  same  shape.  I  presume  you  supposed 
the  lock  was  let  in  the  stock  by  hand,  but  here  is  a  machine 
that  does  the  work  in  a  very  short  time.  It  is  a  very  finely 
constructed  piece  of  mechanism ;  having  cutting  tools  like  au- 
gers, which  revolve  swiftly;  which  are  letdown  on  the  place 
to  be  cut,  and  guided  by  a  pattern  of  the  proper  size  and 
depth.  We  see  the  lock  tried  on  the  stock  just  taken  out,  and 
it  is  a  perfect  fit.  It  would  have  taken  a  good  workman  a 
long  time  to  have  done  this  by  hand,  and  then  it  would  not 
have  been  as  well  done.  Let  us  notice  these  two  old  Span- 
ish cannon,  cast  in  the  year  1400;  and  used  by  Cortezin  the 
conquest  of  Mexico.  They  are  made  to  load  at  the  breech; 
for  you  see  this  bar  can  be  taken  out,  a  section  of  the  cannon 
removed,  the  charge  and  powder  placed  in,  and  then  the  sec- 
tion put  back  again  and  held  in  place  by  the  strong  bar. 

Here  is  a  strange  gun  called  the  Grattling  gun,  after  the  in- 
ventor. It  has  ten  barrels,  somewhat  larger  than  ordinary 
rifle  barrels;  and  these  are  loaded  at  the  breech  by  a  sort  of 
hopper,  just  large  enough  to  hold  a  single  column  of  cart- 
ridges. To  discharge  it,  there  is  a  crank  which  will  turn 


UNCLE  SAM'S  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  109 

three  times  in  a  minute,  and  fires  three  balls  at  each  revolu- 
tion. It  is  arranged  so  that  it  can  be  sighted;  and  some  of 
larger  size  have  an  effective  range  of  three  or  four  miles.  An- 
other strauge  gun  is  called  the  "  Coffee  Mill  Gun;"  because  it 
has  a  hopper  about  the  same  shape  as  that  of  a  coffee  mill,  in 
which  the  cartridges  are  thrown.  This  has  but  a  single  bar- 
rel, and  works  with  a  crank;  but  is  not  a  practical  success 
like  the  other,  as  near  as  we  can  ascertain.  All  along 
this  wall,  you  see  hundreds  of  muskets,  swords,  cutlasses;  and 
all  sorts  of  arms  used  from  very  early  times,  down  to  the  pres- 
ent day;  and  meant  particularly  to  show  the  improvements 
made  from  time  to  time  in  implements  of  war-fare.  Hours 
might  be  spent  in  looking  over  these  old  relics,  and  thinking 
over  the  bloody  scenes  in  which  they  have  taken  a  part. 
Here,  for  instance,  is  an  old  Roman  sword,  such  as  you  see  in 
pictures;  short,  straight  blade,  and  brass  hilt,  and  handle  of 
a  design  to  represent  scales  of  fish. 

You  remember  Paul  Jones,  the  daring  sea  fighter,  who 
won  distinction  as  an  officer  in  our  navy,  and  who  attacked  and 
captured  so  many  vessels  belonging  to  Great  Britain,  during 
the  war  of  1812;  and  who  is  one  of  the  most  romantic  char- 
acters in  the  annals  of  our  naval  warfare,  and  the  favorite 
hero  in  numerous  stories  of  desperate  engagements  and  hair- 
breadth escapes; — well,  here  is  his  sword,  this  one,  with  rude 
blade  which  looks  as  if  some  common  blacksmith  had  made 


110       BEN  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

it  from  an  old  cross-cut  saw,  and  put  it  in  that  common 
oak  handle,  which  any  one  could  whittle  out.  But  although 
rude,  it  was  no  less  victorious,  for  the  construction  of  the 
sword  is  of  far  less  consequence  than  the  hand  that  holds  it, 
and  the  brain  that  directs  it;  and  so,  in  the  battle  of  life,  vic- 
tories are  not  so  much  gained  by  magnificent  opportunities, 
as  by  making  good  use  of  those  we  have. 

Here  are  wax  figures  of  soldiers,  showing  the  different 
uniforms  of  our  army  and  navy,  and  the  goods  of  which  they 
are  made.  There  are  also,  as  you  see,  specimens  of  camp 
tents,  also  figures  of  horses,  large  as  life,  to  show  how  ar- 
tillery harness  is  constructed,  and  its  quality.  On  one  of 
them  a  cavalry  man  in  wax  is  mounted,  showing  his  uniform 
and  equipments.  Here,  standing  on  end,  are  six  beautiful 
bronze  cannon,  on  which  are  brass  plates,  informing  us  that 
they  were  presented  by  Lafayette  to  the  Americans  during 
the  Revolution.  Two  of  them  are  about  eight  feet  long,  and 
the  others  about  five  feet  long.  They  bear  the  stamp  of  La- 
fayette's coat  of  arms.  Do  you  see  that  fine  wax  figure 
dressed  in  blue  coatr  with  broad,  white  trimmings  on  cuffs 
and  edges,  and  large  brass  buttons,  white  vest  and  gloves, 
leggings  made  of  fine,  strong  cloth,  and  black,  three-cornered 
hat,  with  colored  plume  on  it?  That  was  the  uniform  of 
Washington's  Life  Guards,  and  a  very  handsome  one  it  was. 
But  here  is  another  of  an  old  man  with  determined  face, 


THE    MINUTE  MAN. 


UNCLE  SAM'S  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  113 

dressed  in  homespun  linen  shirt,  red  vest,  brown  leggings 
ana  cloak,  black  stockings,  and  soft  hat,  and  holding  an  old 
fowling  piece  in  his  hand.  That  is  the  minute  man  of  1776, 
half  soldier,  and  half  citizen. 

But  here  we  come  to  a  spot  where  every  student  and 
American  will  tread  tenderly.  In  this  case  is  a  marble  sta- 
tue, showing  a  fine  intellectual  head,  with  large  brain,  high 
forehead,  long,  curling  hair,  nose  large,  a  firm  mouth  covered 
by  a  mustache,  and  a  chin  in  keeping  with  the  other  charac- 
teristics of  the  face;  and  we  see  the  name  of  Dr.  Elisha  Kent 
Kane,  the  famous  Artie  explorer.  Who  that  has  read  the 
graphic  and  beautiful  narrative  of  his  life  and  experience  in 
that  land  of  eternal  desolation,  of  the  hardships  and  dangers, 
worthily  undertaken  and  bravely  endured  for  the  cause  of 
science,  will  not  look  on  this  cold  marble  with  feelings  of 
almost  affectionate  interest,  especially  those  to  whom  that 
narrative  was  alike  a  revelation,  and  a  romance. 

In  another  case  near  by,  we  see  the  Esquimaux  dress  he 
wore,  made  in  the  fashion  of  the  country,  of  the  fur  of  the 
white  polar  bear,  and  covering  the  whole  body,  except  the 
face;  making  a  man  look  very  much  like  a  bear  walking  on 
his  hind  limbs.  The  rifle  he  used  is  also  in  this  case, — an 
ordinary  looking  one,  and  above,  we  see  his  "kayah,"  or 
Esquimaux  boat.  They  have  also  his  sledge,  made  of  pieces 
of  wood  fastened  together  with  raw  hide,  and  the  runners 


114  BEN"  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

shod  with  smooth  pieces  of  bone,  which  are  also  fastened  in 
the  same  way.  The  cross  pieces  on  the  top  are  also  strongly 
tied  on,  and  the  whole  is  nothing  but  a  simple  frame. 

Outside  of  the  building,  there  stands  a  curiosity  in  the  shape 
of  an  old  army  wagon,  which  was  in  the  Union  service  four 
years  and  nine  months,  and  has  traveled  4160  miles.  It  has 
been  through  all  the  campaigns  of  Gren.  Sherman,  and  though 
old,  and  battered,  still  looks  as  if  it  were  good  for  several 
more  campaigns. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  places,  especially  for  those 
who  have  any  love  for  antiquities,  is  a  very  large  collection 
of  Indian  relics,  from  Mexico,  Peru,  California,  and  many  of 
the  Western  and  Southwestern  States.  Here  are  case  after 
case  filled  with  the  most  grotesque  idols, — all  with  big,  mis- 
shapen heads,  and  a  severe  burlesque  on  the  human  body; 
jars  of  many  patterns,  and  of  different  colors,  and  some  that 
are  double,  having  a  sort  of  Siamese-twin  connection  between 
them,  and  constructed  so  as  to  make  a  whistle.  Then  there 
are  large  pots  and  cooking  utensils,  of  all  sizes,  generally 
black  looking,  and  rude,  but  still  well  burned,  and  durable; 
stone  hammers  and  pestles  for  crushing  their  grains;  stone 
hatchets  made  of  hard  flint,  to  be  fastened  to  wooden 
handles,  spears  and  arrow  heads,  of  many  sizes  and  patterns, 
and  some  things  that  would  puzzle  any  one  to  guess  what 
they  were  made  for,  except  for  the  purpose  of  bewildering 


UNCLE  SAM'S  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  115 

and  befogging   the  minds  of  speculative   antiquarians,  for 
which  scarcely  any  improvement  could  be  suggested. 

These  cases  are  arranged  not  with  reference  to  the  localities 
from  which  the  relics  came,  so  much  as  a  classification  in  re- 
gard to  the  time  when  they  were  made,  so  that  in  one  case, 
we  may  find  articles  from  Mexico,  California,  or  Michigan, 
or  half  a  dozen  places  widely  separated  from  each  other.  We 
notice  a  column  of  large  idols,  one  carved  above  the  other, 
on  immense  door  posts  from  the  houses  of  the  Sitka  Indians. 
They  are  very  rude,  and  painted  in  glaring  colors.  Here  is 
a  genuine  Indian  wigwam,  made  of  smoked  buffalo  skins, 
which  is  about  sixteen  feet  in  diameter,  and  has  a  hole  at  the 
top  for  the  smoke  to  escape.  There  are  also  wax  figures  of 
celebrated  Indian  braves,  with  names  indicating  their  blood- 
thirsty dispositions,  and  terrible  fighting  qualities.  They  are 
gayly  caparisoned  with  all  that  can  delight  the  Indian  taste; 
paint  without  stint,  war  feathers,  colored  blankets,  huge 
coils  of  beads,  buckskin  leggings,  and  fancy  moccassins. 
Novelists  with  unsubdued  fancies,  may  sit  in  their  cozy  back 
parlors,  and  write  pretty  little  stories  of  the  noble  red  man, 
bounding  over  his  native  wilds  in  all  the  untrammelled  free- 
dom of  his  irrepressible  nature,  his  mind  simple  and  confid- 
ing, his  life  full  of  romantic  exploits, — and  pen  their  fanciful 
life  pictures,  in  which  eagle  plumes,  brandishing  tomahawks, 
dusky  maidens,  peaceful  pursuits  of  the  chase,  charming 


116        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

simplicity  of  primitive  life,  and  all  the  other  accessaries  of 
primal  innocence  and  native  chivalry,  all  find  their  approprL 
ate  place;  but  let  one  of  these  red  gentlemen,  with  his  small, 
cruel,  black  eyes,  his  coarse,  unkempt  locks,  and  the  charms 
of  his  wide  cheek  bones,  and  large  animal  mouth,  heightened 
by  a  skillful  application  of  red  and  yellow  ochres;  I  sayt 
should  this  attractive  creature  meet  our  charming  story 
writer  on  those  same  native  wilds,  I  fancy  the  next  novel,  if 
by  some  miraculous  interposition  of  Providence  it  should  be 
permitted  at  all,  would  indicate  a  very  sudden  change  of 
base  on  the  Indian  question. 

Here  are  thousands  of  specimens  in  mineralogy  and 
natural  history,  brought  from  the  Smithsonian  Institute  at 
Washington,  which  would  be  sufficient  to  occupy  a  student 
in  those  departments  for  months;  but  which  we,  without  any 
special  tastes  in  that  direction,  will  pass  over. 

In  a  safe,  are  shown  specimens  of  gold  from  Montana, — 
nuggets  like  peas,  sticking  from  the  quartz  rock,  in  the  most 
tantalizing  manner,  and  many  specimens  of  different  sizes 
from  gulch  mines,  and  dust  of  many  different  degrees  of  fine- 
ness;— all  making  a  fine  exhibit  of  the  untold  wealth  hidden 
in  those  wild  mountains.  A  large  torpedo  is  a  noticeable  ob- 
ject, about  thirty  feet  long,  pointed  at  both  ends,  with  a  pro- 
pelling screw  at  one  end,  to  drive  it  through  the  water.  It 
is  about  three  feet  in  diameter  in  the  middle,  is  painted  white; 


THE     ARIZONA     METEORITE. 


UNCLE  SAM'S  GOVERNMENT  BUILDING.  119 

and  is  exploded  by  electricity.  Hung  up  over  the  articles  on 
exhibition,  are  many  portraits,  taken  from  public  archives,  of 
many  of  the  most  famous  officers  of  the  service,  who  have 
distinguished  themselves  by  their  valor,  and  whose  memories 
are  thus  preserved,  and  held  sacred  by  a  generous  and  appreci- 
ative government. 

Here  is  a  machine  for  cutting  cloth  for  army  uniforms, 
which  attracts  much  notice.  The  tailor  takes  perhaps  twenty 
thicknesses  of  cloth,  and  chalks  the  pattern  on  the  upper 
one,  and  this  machine  will  cut  through  the  whole  thickness 
as  clean  as  a  pair  of  shears  would  cut  a  single  piece,  thus 
saving  the  labor  of  many  men.  We  can  get  a  very  good 
idea  of  the  immense  size  of  the  sperm  whale,  by  noticing 
these  jaw  bones,  forming  an  arch,  each  side  about  fourteen 
feet  long,  and  nine  feet  of  it  being  covered  by  teeth  which 
are  five  or  six  inches  long,  and  about  two  inches  through. 
Here  is  also  a  model  showing  the  perils  of  whale  h'shing,  in 
which  one  of  these  hugh  monsters  has  seized  a  boat  in  his 
jaws,  and  the  sailors  are  floating  about  here  and  there,  while 
the  sea  is  lashed  into  a  furious  foam.  On  the  the  outside  of 
the  building  are  many  kinds  of  cannon,  one  of  which  is  a 
Rodman  gun,  about  twenty  feet  long,  and  five  feet  in  diame- 
ter at  the  butt,  and  it  weighs  115,100  fcs.  It  throws  a  shot 
weighing  1, 080  fts.,  more  than  half  a  ton,  and  requires  a 
charge  of  200  fts  of  powder.  It  is  mounted  on  a  carnage, 


120       BEN  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

and  is  loaded  at  the  muzzle.  Another  large  gun  is  suspend- 
ed from  a  frame  by  strong  iron  bars,  and  some  hold,  that  this 
is  the  best  mode  of  mounting  such  large  pieces.  It  is  very 
simple  and  inexpensive  certainly,  in  comparison  with  the  oth- 
er method.  A  turret  of  a  monitor  is  also  to  be  seen,  the  sides 
protected  by  heavy  plates  of  iron,  and  the  mouths  of  the  heavy 
cannon  to  be  seen  at  the  port  holes.  It  is  about  fifteen  feet 
high  and  perhaps  thirty  feet  in  diameter. 

We  can  see  the  medical  department  in  a  separate  building 
near  by,  where  there  are  models  of  noating.aiid  permanent^ 
hospitals,  showing  the  inside  arrangements  with  regard 
toconveiiience, ventilation  and  furniture.  Also  models  of  am- 
bulances, and  all  the  appurtenances  of  hospital  service.  There 
are  pictures  on  the  wall  which  show  all  sorts  of  surgical  opera- 
tions, some  of  the  most  fearful  character,  which  would  seem 
impossible  to  perform,  and  the  poor  patient  survive.  There  are 
some  of  the  of  most  powerful  microscopes  here, — one  of  them 
shows  a  piece  of  a  cat's  intestine,  a  little  larger  than  a  pin's 
head,  and  the  little  capillaries  are  injected  with  Prussian  blue 
and  carmine;  and  it  appears  several  inches  in  diameter,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  things  you  can  imagine,  having 
a  ragged  and  irregular  appearance,  and  colored  with  the  most 
delicate  tints.  The  officer  in  charge  tells  us  that  it  requires 
the  greatest  skill  to  prepare  such  a  subject  for  the  microscope, 
and  that  very  few  are  seen  as  perfect  as  this.  In  another 


THE  WOMEN'S  PAVILION.  121 

microscope  is  a  similar  piece  of  a  calf  skin,  and  it  looks  like 
delicately  tinted  frost-work. 

Not  far  from  this,  is  a  building  filled  with  apparatus  for  pre- 
serving life  at  sea.  There  are  all  kinds  of  life  boats,  and  life 
preservers,  and  a  very  interesting  object  is  a  mortar,  by  which 
they  throw  a  coil  of  rope  to  a  vessel  in  distress  at  a  distance; 
and  after  a  strong  rope  is  fastened  to  the  vessel  and  the  shore, 
there  is  a  sort  of  a  cradle  or  basket  which  they  pull  by  ropes 
to  and  from  the  ship,  and  thus  save  many  valuable  lives.  The 
•mortars  used  for  this  purpose  are  of  different  sizes,  according 
to  the  distance  they  wish  to  send  the  rope.  There  is  a  short 
coil  of  wire  fastened  to  the  ball  and  the  rope  is  tied  to  this, 
so  that  when  the  ball  is  fired,  the  sudden  motion  will  not 
break  the  rope,  but  will  merely  straighten 'the  wire,  and  in 
this  ingenious  manner  the  rope  is  prevented  from  breaking. 
There  is  another  feature  of  the  Government  department 
which  will  make  itself  heard  in  spite  of  every  thing,  and  that 
is  an  ear-splitting  fog-horn,  that  every  now  and  then  bellows 
its  discordant  tones  with  startling  effect. 

The  'Women's  Pavilion. 


This  department  is  by  itself,  in  a  tasteful  building  designed 
for  the   purpose,   and  is  filled   by  needle   work,   embroidery, 


122       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

shell  work,  carving,  paintings  in  oil  and  water  colors,  woven 
fabrics,  drawings,  and  printing,  all  done  by  women  of  Spain, 
Japan,  Great  Britain,  several  Indian  tribes,  Sweden,  the 
Phillipine  islands  and  perhaps  some  other  countries.  Several 
looms  are  busily  at  work,  attended  by  women,  one  of  which 
weaves  Centennial  badges  or  book  marks  of  very  pretty  de- 
sign, which  are  readily  sold  as  fast  as  made. 

Queen  Victoria  has  contributed  some  embroidery  done  by 
herself,  also  some  of  her  etchings,  as  well  as  some  drawings  in 
pencil,  of  the  Princess  Louise,  which  are  executed  very  pret- 
tily, and  show  that  they  must  have  devoted  considerable  at- 
tention to  these  pursuits.  So  we  see  the  greatest  and  best 
Queen  of  modern  times,  lending  her  influence  and  example  to 
the  cause  of  industry  and  labor. 

In  contrast  with  this,  are  some  figures  cut  out  of  white  pa- 
per without  a  pattern,  by  squaws  of  Iowa  Indians,  to  be  used 
for  patterns  in  embroidery.  They  are  cut  in  the  most  reg- 
ular manner,  having  graceful  figures,  and  displaying  great 
skill  and  inventive  thought.  There  are  also  dolls  made  by 
the  squaws  of  the  Winnebagoes,  which  are  very  neat  and 
creditable.  An  elaborate  pattern  of  lace,  which  has  been  par- 
tially made  in  the  convent  at  St.  Augustine,  shows  the  pro- 
cess by  which  it  is  made.  The  pattern  is  marked  out  by  pins, 
stuck  so  as  to  show  the  design,  and  hundreds  of  handles  or 
spools,  on  which  the  thread  is  wound,  have  to  be  manipulated, 


THE  WOMEN'S  PAVILION.  125 

which  must  be  a  bewildering  task.  There  are  fine  displays 
of  the  richest  laces,  the  most  brilliant  wax  flowers,  and  ex- 
quisite shell  work.  In  one  case  are  moccasins,  smoking 
pouches,  bow  case,  quiver,  belts,  etc.,  all  made  by  Indian  wo- 
men, and  displaying  great  ingenuity. 

A  carpet  loom  is  in  operation,  weaving  an  elaborate  pattern 
of  ingrain  carpet,  and  worked  by  a  woman.  A  lady  artist  of 
Cincinnati,  Mrs.  Mary  G.  Este,  has  executed  an  exquisite  bas- 
relief  in  butter  of  "  lolanthe,"  the  blind  daughter  of  a  king, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  works  of  art  in  the  depart- 
ment. There  are  wonderful  specimens  of  painting  in  colors 
on  china,  by  amateurs,  which  are  truly  admirable.  Also  sev- 
eral pieces  of  wood  carving,  which  must  convince  anyone  that 
a  large  part  of  this  work  may  be  transferred  to  wome*,  and 
thus  her  sphere  of  labor  enlarged.  We  also  notice  several 
pieces  of  painting  on  silk,  which  are  extremely  beautiful. 

Several  groups  of  wax  figures  from  Sweden,  are  very  inter- 
esting, and  give  an  excellent  insight  into  the  peculiar  char- 
acteristics of  the  people  in  regard  to  features  and  costume. 
One,  is  that  of  a  maiden,  who  is  picking  a  flower,  to  ascertain 
what  answer  she  shall  give  her  lover,  who  stands  behind  her 
leaning  forward  with  an  expression  of  great  earnestness,  and 
looking  over  her  shoulder  to  learn  the  result.  Another  maiden 
at  her  side  is  looking  on  with  great  interest  also  to  see  the 
fate  of  her  Mend.  They  have  the  wide  cheek  bones,  rather 


126       BEN  BEVEELT  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

flat  nose,  and  straight,  flaxen  hair,  which  are  generally  char- 
acteristic of  the  people. 

The  Japanese  ladies  have  contributed  a  piece  of  exquisite 
needlework,  being  the  portraits  of  the  royal  family  of  Japan. 
There  are  cases  of  gold  embroidery  which  are  extremely  rich, 
and  some  of  the  oil  paintings  are  works  of  great  merit. 


Education  Among  the  Japanese. 


Japan  has  an  educational  department,  which  does  her  in- 
finite credit,  and  shows  the  enterprise  and  activity  of  that 
wonderful  people  in  this  direction.  It  is  an  extensive  collec- 
tion of  school  books,  maps,  charts,  school  registers,  pictures 
chemical  and  philosophical  apparatus,examination  reports,  etc. 

From  a  very  intelligent  Japanese  gentleman,  who  speaks 
quite  good  English,  who  is  dressed  in  our  costume,  tall  silk  hat 
and  all,  and  who  has  charge  of  this  department,  we  learn  that 
Japan  has  a  system  of  public  schools,  in  which  they  have 
substantially  adopted  the  American  method  of  education.  Their 
system  is  compulsory  ,requiring  the  attendance  of  children  from 
six  to  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  at  the  present  time,  sixty  per 
cent,  of  the  children  of  proper  age  are  in  actual  attendance. 
They  have  fifty  thousand  of  these  public  schools,  which  are 


EDUCATION  AMONG  THE  JAPANESE.  127 

supported  by  the  Government  and  are  free  to  all.  They  have 
also  an  Imperial  University,  under  the  care  of  the  Govern- 
ment, in  which  are  taught  the  English,  French,  German, 
Russian  and  Chinese  languages,  chemistry,  the  higher  math- 
ematics, and  literature.  A  law  school  is  also  connected  with 
this,  and  is  a  part  of  the  University.  They  have  also  estab- 
lished kinder-garten  schools  within  the  past  year,  on  much 
the  same  plan  as  carried  on  in  this  country.  He  tells  us  that 
the  Japanse  alphabet  contains  forty-eight  letters,  and  there 
is  no  sound  which  a  letter  will  not  represent;  that  there  is  a 
regular  arrangement  of  sounds  corresponding  to  our  vowels 
and  consonants;  that  some  words  are  composed  of  a  single 
letter,  that  the  Chinese  and  Japanese  languages  are  entire- 
ly distinct,  although  of  late  years  many  Chinese  words 
have  crept  into  common  use,  and  have  become  incorporat- 
ed in  their  Japanese  languages,  the  same  as  foreign  words 
with  us.  They  have  a  counting  machine,  with  which  they 
can  add  together  numbers  with  great  facilty.  It  is  like 
an  abacus,  having  five  wires  about  two  feet  long  stretched 
horizontally  in  a  frame,  with  a  large  number  of  button- 
like  pieces  of  wood  strung  on  them.  With  this  they  will 
add  together  large  sums  sooner  than  we  can,  with  pencil 
and  paper.  As  an  experiment,  I  gave  the  numbers  3,654  and 
7,322,  and  the  result  was  given,  before  I  could  set  them  down 
and  add  them  together. 


128       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

A  large  case  of  chemical  and  philosohical  apparatus  is  ex- 
hibited, entirely  of  Japanese  manufacture,  but  most  of  it  is  a 
mere  imitation  of  ours;  as  they  had  very  little  of  their  own, 
before  their  country  was  opened  to  foreigners.  This  appara- 
tus is  seemingly  as  accurate  and  well  made,  as  that  used  by 
our  institutions  of  learning.  We  see  here  primers  with  pic- 
tures opposite  the  letters,  to  illustrate  them,  as  in  ours.  Spec- 
imens of  map  drawing  are  shown,  which  would  be  consider- 
ed excellent  in  our  schools;  one  in  particular  of  the  United 
States,  the  States  being  nicely  colored,  and  the  lettering  neat- 
ly done  in  English. 

There  are  a  number  of  colored  pictures  which  are  interest- 
ing, as  they  show  the  difference  between  the  old  and  the  new 
methods  of  teaching.  The  old  method  was  for  the  pupils  to 
sit  in  groups  on  the  bare  floor,  with  their  feet  curved  under 
them  like  tailors,  and  their  books  lying  on  the  floor  before 
them,  while  the  teacher,  who  is  an  important  looking  person- 
age in  venerable  robe,  also  sits  in  the  same  manner  with  a 
pile  of  books  by  his  side;  and  this  was  also  the  old  way  in 
giving  lectures.  The  pictures  showing  the  present  school- 
rooms, show  convenient  desks,  comfortable  seats,  black-boards 
and  maps  on  the  wall,  a  neat  desk  for  the  teacher  on  an  ele- 
vated platform,  and  all  the  conveniences  of  a  well  appointed 
school-house.  There  are  excellent  charts  shown,  for  students 
of  natural  history,  representing  all  kinds  of  birds,  animals, 


AUTO-BIOGRAPHY  OF  A  SWORD.  129 

plants,  fishes,  and  fruits;  and,  also,  cases  of  stuffed  birds, 
beasts,  fishes  and  insects.  Also  pictures  of  articles  of  do- 
mestic use,  to  be  used  as  object-lessons.  To  give  some  idea 
of  the  intelligence  and  cast  of  mind  of  the  Japanese  scholar, 
and  also,  to  preserve  as  a  literary  curiosity,  we  will  copy  a 
composition  written  by  a  Japanese  school-boy  about  fifteen 
years  old,  in  the  first  class  of  the  junior  division;  which  is  en- 
titled, 


Auto-biography  of  a  Sword. 


"  I  was  born  in  a  solitary  place,  under  an  elevation  of  land, 
"  where  I  hardly  could  breathe  the  pure  air  and  enjoy  the  de- 
licious sunshine — like  persons  confined  in  a  dark  prison. 
"  My  house  was  just  as  long  as  my  person;  from  this  account, 
1  I  grew  never  larger;  although,  I  remained  there  for  a  long 
"  time  I  longed  for  a  helper  in  getting  out  of  this  unpleasant 
"  place,  confiding  my  fate  in  the  Great  Father  Above.  But 
"the  Providence  was  cold  towards  me  for  a  long  time;  but 
"  after  the  lapse  of  years  and  years,  a  kind,  strong  man  came 
44  in  search  of  me.  He  dug  the  ground  over  and  took  me  up  to 
"  the  open  air.  He  appeared  to  be  very  kind,  yet  I  knew  not 
"what  he  intended  to  do  with  me. 


130       BEN  BEVEELY  AT  THE  GBEAT  EXPOSITION. 

"  I,  indeed,  was  half  in  fear,  and  half  in  joy, when  the  kind 
"but  fearful  looking  man  said  with  his  thundering  voice: 
"  'You  must  be  submissive  to  me,  and  become  what  I  wish  you 
"  to.'  I  trembled  with  fear  and  joy,  and  could  not  utter  any 
"  other  word,  but  yes. 

"  I  accompanied  him  to  his  house,  which  was  very  large  and 
"pleasant  for  me,  and  within  a  few  days,  I  witnessed  him  to 
"  be  my  real  benefactor.  My  joy  was  as  great  as  mountains,  for 
"  I  was  treated  very  kindly.  He  appeared  to  be  eager  in  edu- 
"  eating  me  well ;  and,  indeed,  he  was,  for  at  the  age  of  twenty 
"I  received  the  rank  of  Sword,  from  the  brilliancy  of  my 
"  mind,  strong  will,  valor,  strength  and  the  respectful  coun- 
"  tenance  which  I  wore.  These  qualities  soon  made  me  up 
"  to  become  the  subject  of  a  great  Sammai  (probably  the  offi- 
"  cial  rank  of  the  master).  I  defended  him  always  from  his 
"  enemies,  and  frequently  went  to  battle  with  him. 

"  But  I  felt  sometimes  very  dangerous,  particularly  when 
"  he  brandished  my  body  around  his  fearful  enemies, — over 
"  precipitous  rocks,  one  time  throwing  me  upon  hard  iron 
"armour,  and  the  other  upon  the  heads  of  his  enemies.  Thus 
"  I  served  my  master  for  a  long  time,  and  now  I  remain 
"  useless,  reclining  to  the  setting  of  my  long  life,  becoming 
"old  and  infirm;  and  the  descendants  of  my  master  too,  re- 
"main  now  unoccupied,  and  in  a  poor  condition." 

We  will  copy   also  the   composition  of  a  little  Japanese 


STOKY  OF  THE  WOLF  AND  MOUSE.  131 

school-girl  in  second  year,  junior  course.  It  is  written 
apparently  in  her  handwriting  in  English,  in  a  plain  hand, 
and  may  be  entitled 


A  Story  of  the  Wolf  and  Mouse. 


"  There  was  a  wolf  which  was  sleeping.  A  little  mouse 
"  came  then  and  crept  on  the  nose  of  the  wolf.  Then  the 
"  wolf  was  very  angry,  and  said,  'I  am  very  angry  and  I  will 
"  kill  you.'  The  little  fellow  tremblingly  said,  'Sir,  I  was 
"wrong;  pardon  me  if  you  please.'  But  the  fierce  fellow 
"  could  not  hear  what  the  little  fellow  said.  The  poor  fellow 
"  said  again,  and  again,  five  times.  At  last  the  wild  fellow 
"forgave  him,  telling  him  to  begone.  The  little  fellow  went 
"  away  feeling  very  happy.  One  day  when  the  wolf  was 
"  going  in  search  of  food,  he  was  caught  by  a  trap,  and  he 
"  was  very  wretched  and  unhappy.  Then  the  little  fellow 
"  came  there,  and  said,  'Thou  hast  spared  my  life  three  or  four 
"  days  ago;  therefore,  I  will  now  return  favor  to  you.' 

"  And  the  little  mouse  gnawed  the  strong  string  with  her 
"  small  and  sharp  teeth.  Then  the  wolf  was  very  glad,  and 
"  he  thanked  the  mouse.  If  even  brutes  learn  to  return  favor 
"  to  men  or  their  mates,  by  whom  once  aided,  therefore  when 


132  BEN  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

"our  friends   are  wretched,  we   must  help  them;   and   we 
"  must  return  favor  to  our  parents." 

(signed)  Y.  OISHI. 

Can  it  be  possible  that  the  little  Japanese  girl  had 
read,  or  heard,  the  fable  of  the  lion  and  the  mouse  in  old 
^sop's  fables,  which  it  resembles  so  much  ?  If  not,  it  is  a 
production  of  striking  originality,  and  would  do  honor  to  an 
older  head. 

For  the  purpose  of  showing  more  fully  the  inner  life  and 
thought  of  these  strange  people,  as  well  as  their  mental  cali- 
bre and  intellectual  activity,  we  will  examine  still  another 
specimen.  It  is  an  essay  from  an  ambitious  young  man  in 
the  law  department  of  the  Imperial  University,  who  aired 
his  powers  of  logic  and  argumentation  by  the  following  dis- 
sertation on  this  subject: 


The  Contrast  between    Self-Love  (or  self- 
interest)  and  Selfishness. 


"  It  requires  great  care  in  any  one,  lest  self-interest,  and 
"  selfishness,  should  be  confounded  together.  For  in  respect 
"  to  the  effects  which  result  from  the  exercise  of  each,  regard- 
"  ing  motives,  the  two  courses  of  actions  induced  by  such 


CONTBAST  BETWEEN  SELF-LOVE  AND  SELFISHNESS.         133 

44  impulses  would  differ  greatly,  and  would  sometimes  be  op- 
41  posed  to  each  other.  However,  the  line  of  demarkation 
44  drawn  between  them  is  somewhat  obscure,  and  so  it  is  very 
'"  difficult  to  determine  where  such  line  is  to  be  found,  and 
"  thus  a  man  of  uncultured  mind  is  very  apt  to  fall  into 
"  error. 

44  Self-interest  seeks  to  promote  one's  own  interest  and  hap- 
44  piness  in  the  main,  that  is  to  say,  it  aims  at  the  safety  and 
41  liberty  of  his  person,  the  security  of  his  personal  property, 
41  and  the  improvement  of  his  character.  Indeed  it  is  his 
u  right  to  secure  his  liberty  and  person,  which  are  inherent 
"in  him  at  his  birth,  and  the  enjoyment  of  his  private  property 
"  which  he  "may  have  lawfully  acquired.  For  this  purpose 
44  he  might  reasonably  make  any  effort  whatever,  so  that  it 
''  does  not  injuriously  affect  the  rights  of  others. 

44  Although  self-interest  aims  directly  at  ones  own  interest 
44  or  happiness,  yet  it  does  by  no  means  neglect  the  interest 
44  of  others.  Thus  the  object  of  self-interest  is  to  promote 
44  one's  own  happiness  without  causing  any  injury  to  the  in- 
44  terest  of  another. 

4t  On  the  other  hand,  selfishness  has  a  strong  bias  to  regard 
41  exclusively  one's  own  interest,  or  rather  satisfaction;  or  to 
4i  use  more  strong  language,  it  neglects  altogether,  the  in. 
41  terest  of  others  for  the  sake  of  his  own  interest  alone.  The 
41  natural  consequence  is,  that  the  others  suffer  an  injury 


134       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

"  thereby.  At  all  events  its  motives  are  base  and  mean,  and 
"  so  are  to  be  condemned  altogether.  Thus  it  is  clear  that 
"  selfishness  is  merely  self-interest  going  too  far  beyond  its 
"proper  limit. 

"  We  shall  now  conclude  the  subject  by  bringing  the  two 
"in  contrast,  thus:  self-interest  regards  his  own  interest  as 
"  well  as  that  of  the  others,  whereas  selfishness  neglects  that 
"  of  others  entirely.  The  end  of  the  one  is  admirable,  whereas 
"  that  of  the  other  is  low  and  mean;  the  motive  of  the  one 
"is  reasonable,  whereas  that  of  the  other  is  sinful;  the  one 
"  producing  good  effects  upon  all,  whereas  the  other  brings 
"  injury  upon  the  rest  of  mankind." 

We  see  by  this,  that  the  Japanese  are  by  no  means  blind, 
as  regards  the  knowledge  and  perception  of  moral  obligations. 

Next,  suppose  we  visit 


The  Wonders  of  Machinery  Hall, 


Perhaps  you  have  a  taste  for  mechanics  and  inventions, — 
suppose  then  we  take  a  walk  through  Machinery  Hall.  Here  we 
see  an  immense  building  that  would  make  old  Vulcan  dance 
with  joy,  so  many  are  the  machines  of  various  kinds  which  it 
contains,  and  so  diversified  their  uses.  Here  is  a  tobacco  estab- 
lishment where  they  are  making  cigars  regularly,  and  the 
four  negro  workmen  make  the  air  vocal  with  their  old  plan- 
tation melodies  or  camp-meeting  choruses.  Hear  how  their 
clear  musical  voices  ring  out  far  above  the  clatter  of  looms 
and  the  whir  of  machinery,  and  cause  a  crowd  to  gather 
around,  delighted  to  hear  the  unexpected  musical  treat.  See 
this  paper  mill  of  such  immense  size  and  complicated  machin- 
ery. Did  you  ever  wonder  how  the  clean  white  paper,  so  pure 
and  fresh,  is  made  from  pulp  of  old  rags,  and  vegetable  fibre  ? 
Here  is  the  long  row  of  rollers  through  which  it  passes,  start- 
ing at  one  end  as  pulp,  and  coming  out  at  the  other  as  firm, 
strong,  white  paper. 

Speaking  of  paper,  did  you  never  wonder  how  wall  paper 
was  made;  so  elegant  in  design,  of  so  many  colors,  and  yet  so 


138       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

cheap.  This  large  cylinder  about  ten  feet  high,  and  frame- 
work about  sixty  feet  long,  is  the  machine  for  making  it,  and 
we  see  them  printing  a  roll  of  paper  of  elaborate  pattern,  in 
fifteen  different  colors;  and  all  those  colors  are  printed  while 
passing  through  the  machine  once.  Notice  that  for  each 
color,  there  is  a  roller  with  the  pattern  cut  upon  it  like  type, 
and  this  is  wet  by  a  roll  of  flannel  which  passes  through  a  trough 
containing  the  proper  color,  and  so  each  roller  does  its  work 
in  turn,  and  the  paper  appears  on  the  frame  complete,  and 
dries  as  it  reaches  the  end  of  the  long  line  of  rollers. 

Let  us  stop  and  examine  this  method  of  painting  on  china 
and  porcelain.  This  man  with  the  head  of  an  artist,  and  a 
firm,  skillful  hand,  will  paint  your  name  so  perfectly,  that  you 
would  imagine  it  to  be  stamped  on  by  machinery;  or  he  will 
paint  one  of  those  beautiful  heads  that  you  see  on  those  china 
cups  standing  near  by. 

We  have  often  wondered  how  railway  car  wheels  can  go  so 
far,  without  breaking  or  wearing  out.  Think  of  the  millions 
of  times  they  revolve  in  going  from  New  York  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, over  switches,  cross  roads,  defective  rails,  up  and  down 
grades,  around  curves,  rushing  on  with  a  speed  that  almost 
makes  us  shut  our  eyes  and  hold  our  breath,  and  yet  how  few 
accidents  occur  from  the  breakage  of  wheels;  so  let  us  stop 
and  look  at  this  pair  of  car  wheels,  which  have  run  460,000 
miles,  and  have  worn  out  three  axles  and  are  on  the  fourth, 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  139 

and  which  are  good  for  75,000  miles  more  service.  It  is  de- 
cidedly comforting  to  think  of  their  wearing  qualities. 

Here  is  a  flouring  mill  all  complete  and  no  larger  than  a 
sugar  hogshead.  The  wheat  goes  in  at  this  hopper,  is  ground 
by  burr  stones,  and  in  this  trough  comes  out  the  fine  white 
flour,  at  one  end  the  shorts,  and  in  another  trough  the 
bran.  By  raising  the  cover,  we  can  see  the  bolts.  This  mill 
can  be  worked  by  steam  or  horse  power,  and  six  horse  power 
will  run  through  seven  bushels  of  wheat  per  hour,  or  it  can  be 
changed  so  as  to  grind  corn  or  buckwheat.  Think  of  a  com- 
plete flouring  mill  for  $400,  and  then  feel  thankful  once  more 
that  you  live  in  this  Centennial  year. 

You  may  rest  assured  that  wherever  you  see  a  crowd  as- 
sembled, there  is  something  interesting  going  on,  and  here 
we  find  the  attraction  to  be  the  manufacture  of  rubber  shoes. 
Perhaps  you  have  thought  the  rubber  is  taken  from  the  tree 
and  put  into  a  machine  which  turns  out  the  shoes  already  made 
and  marked  for  sale ;  if  so,  you  are  slightly  mistaken,  as  you  may 
observe.  In  the  first  place,  there  is  a  machine  for  spreading 
a  coat  of  rubber  over  netting,  which  is  elastic.  This  is 
cut  ready  for  the  last,  by  that  man  over  there;  and  this  girl 
then  fits  it  to  the  last  and  puts  on  a  rubber  covering.  Another 
takes  it,  trims  it  off,  coats  the  bottom  with  a  kind  of  paste,  and 
then  puts  on  a  rubber  sole,  which  she  trims  so  dexterously  and 
quickly,  that  it  is  a  pleasure  to  see  her.  Then  they  are  put  in 


140  BEN"  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GKEAT   EXPOSITION". 

that  oven  over  there, where  they  are  vulcanized, — then  they  are 
polished  and  receive  the  finishing  touches. 

Here  is  a  working  model  of  a  railroad  car  run  by  compress- 
ed air.  It  ascends  a  steep  grade,  and  passes  from  one  end  of 
the  track  to  the  other,  but  needing  to  be  supplied  quite  fre- 
quently with  compressed  air  from  a  fixed  reservoir. 

Yachting  is  becoming  a  popular  recreation  for  millionaires 
of  nautical  tastes, — shall  we  examine  this  model  of  a  steam 
yacht  ?  You  see  it  is  only  about  four  feet  long  and  nine 
inches  wide,  and  yet,  a  little  steam  engine  working  inside,  is 
driving  the  little  brass  screw  wheel  at  the  stern.  A  beauti- 
ful piece  of  mechanism  truly,  and  constructed  apparently  on 
the  most  approved  methods  of  marine  architecture,  when  a 
high  rate  of  speed  is  desired. 

Here  also  is  a  working  model  of  a  U.  S.  monitor,  with  re- 
volving turret  and  guns,  and  steam  engine  driving  the  pro- 
pelling screw. 

But  what  a  clatter  is  here,  and  a  crowd  pressing  forward  to 
get  a  sight  of  the  wonder.  And  it  is  a  wonder,  over  which 
orators  might  rhapsodize,  and  poets  grow  wild,  and  which,  if 
a  man  had  dreamed  of  one  hundred  years  ago,  he  would  have 
been  considered  a  lunatic.  It  is  one  of  Hoe's  presses,  print- 
ing a  newspaper  at  the  rate  of  480  copies  per  minute.  That 
means,  one  at  every  eighth  of  a  second,  printed  on  both  sides, 
folded  twice,  and  laid  in  piles,  ready  for  the  counter  or  news- 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  141 

boy.  And  you  see  the  machine  does  it  alone, — all  it  needs  is 
to  be  started,  and  the  papers  taken  away.  The  press  is  fed 
from  the  roll,  as  you  see,  which  is  like  a  very  large  spool  on 
which  the  paper  is  wound.  And  yet  this  marvellous  machine 
which  produces  such  wonderful  results,  requires  so  little 
power,  that  one  of  the  workmen  tells  us,  that  it  could  be 
turned  by  one  man. 

But  there  we  notice  another  crowd,  and  consequently  there 
must  be  something  interesting  going  on.  This  proves  to  be 
quite  a  large  machine,  which  is  worked  by  a  little  girl,  who  is 
winding  silk  from  the  cocoon.  The  cocoons  are  put  in  a  sort 
of  vat  of  hot  water,  to  loosen  the  silk,  then  the  threads 
are  attached  to  reels  which  are  turned  by  power,  and  the 
little  girl  keeps  the  threads  in  order.  You  may  think  this  a 
very  simple  operation,  but  if  you  tried  to  do  it,  you  would 
find  it  a  very  hard  matter,  and  a  process  which  requires  a 
great  deal  of  judgment  and  experience.  Look  at  this  case 
and  see  the  rich,  creamy  colored  silk  in  rolls,  as  it  has  been 
taken  from  the  reels,  and  ready  to  be  wrought  into  the  most 
costly  and  beautiful  fabrics. 

We  come  now  to  a  spot  decidedly  warlike  in  aspect,  and 
look  up  and  find  that  we  are  within  the  confines  of  Russia. 
The  great  bear  means  to  convince  us  that  he  is  not  behind 
other  powers  of  the  earth  in  his  military  accoutrements,  and 
so,  here  we  see  an  enormous  cannon  about  sixteen  feet  long 


142       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

and  about  three  feet  in  diameter  at  the  largest  end,  with  a 
bore  of  about  twelve  inches,  which  will  carry  a  ball  weighing 
300  Ibs.  seven  and  one-half  miles  (at  least,  so  the  black-whis- 
kered Russian  in  charge  informs  us);  also  this  large  brass 
cannon  about  nine  feet  long  and  two  and  a  half  feet  thick  at 
the  base,  having  a  bore  of  about  nine  inches,  and  which  will 
carry  a  large  ball  probably  three  or  four  miles.  Here  are  many 
other  specimens  of  smaller  brass  and  iron  field  pieces,  all  finely 
mounted,  and  kept  in  the  most  perfect  order.  These  figures 
of  four  horses  of  natural  size,  are  models  showing  mounted 
artillery.  Here  is  a  small  cannon,  taken  apart,  and  carried 
with  all  its  appurtenances  on  pack  saddles  on  these  horses. 
They  show  also,  specimens  of  their  army  wagons,  and  of 
their  boats  and  life  boat.  The  life  boat  seems  to  be  con- 
structed on  the  same  principle  as  one  adopted  by  our  govern- 
ment, which  is  made  of  two  cylinders  of  very  strong  air  tight 
cloth,  about  twenty  feet  long  and  two  and  a  half  feet  in  dia- 
meter, filled  with  air,  with  a  framework  between  them,  of 
wood,  upon  which  the  navigator  stands,  but  it  is  only  to  be 
used  as  a  life  boat,  as  there  would  be  no  dry  place  on  it.  The 
other  boats  exhibit  the  highest  skill  in  boat  building,  both  as 
to  shape  and  finish.  Here  is  one  made  of  two  long  narrow 
boats  like  canoes,  placed  apart  four  or  five  feet,  and  fastened 
together  with  a  seat  between  them. 

But  we  now  come  to  Sweden,  and  can  have  opportunity  to 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  143 

judge  of  her  skill  in  mechanical  appliances.  These  immense 
machines  are  saw  mills,  some  with  upright,  and  some  with 
circular  saws,  and  seem  so  strongly  built,  as  if  to  last  ages. 
Here  are  models  of  ancient  armor,  covered  with  rich  designs, 
which  have  been  pressed  into  shape  by  powerful  dies,  and  here 
are  specimens  of  her  heavy  castings,  which  show  that  she  is 
not  behind  her  rivals  in  this  department. 

France  has  a  great  variety  of  machinery  on  exhibition, 
some  of  which  we  will  notice.  She  is  justly  noted  for  her 
silk  weaving,  and  here  we  can  see  the  operation.  The  loom 
is  very  simple,  and  made  mainly  of  wood,  but  the  fabrics  it 
produces  are  of  the  heaviest  and  richest  kind.  This  loom  is 
probably  the  same  in  design  as  those  used  by  the  Huguenots 
centuries  ago,and  on  which  were  made  those  woven  goods 
that  were  famous  throughout  Europe. 

But  here  we  come  to  a  monster  machine,  which  is  used  for 
sinking  shafts,  for  mines  or  wells.  The  frame  is  about  forty 
feet  high,  and  this  ponderous  affair,  which  looks  like  a  weight, 
is  a  drill  weighing  several  tons,  which  has  chisels  at  the  bot- 
tom, and  which  is  raised  by  hoisting  apparatus  to  the  top  of 
the  frame,  and  then  is  dropped  down  in  the  shaft,  where 
the  chisels  loosen  and  cut  the  rock.  This  immense  pair  of 
pincers,  like  fingers  interlacing  each  other,  is  to  lower  down 
and  catch  the  loose  material  which  the  drill  has  made.  An- 
other machine  is  so  -massive  that  it  would  make  a  good  sign 


144       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

for  old  Vulcan's  forge, — it  is  a  sugar  mill  for  grinding  the 
cane;  having  enormous  rollers  about  ten  feet  long,  and  three 
feet  in  diameter,  between  which  the  cane  passes,  crushing  out, 
we  should  suppose,  every  particle  of  moisture.  They  are  at- 
tached to  a  cog-wheel,  which  is  driven  by  another  immense 
cog-wheel  about  twenty  feet  in  diameter,  and  this  is  regulated 
by  a  very  heavy  balance  wheel  of  about  the  same  diameter. 
This  is  some  of  the  most  powerful  machinery  shown,  and  is 
almost  sublime  in  its  massiveness. 

But  now  we  come  to  Brazil,  that  growing  empire,  which 
makes  such  a  magnificent  display  in  many  departments  of 
the  Exposition,  and  whose  ruler  seems  to  feel  so  great  an  in- 
terest in  our  country.  Here  we  see  in  models,  the  uniforms 
of  the  Brazilian  army,  some  of  linen,  and  some  of  blue  cloth, 
with  less  gilt  lace  and  embroidery  than  some,  but  yet  quite  as 
substantial  and  serviceable.  Here  are  many  pieces  of  cannon, 
and  models  which  give  us  a  very  clear  idea  of  their  army 
equipments,  baggage  wagons,  pontoon  bridges,  ammunition 
wagons,  and  ambulances.  A  steam  engine,  highly  finished, 
and  working  in  the  most  perfect  manner,  attracts  our  atten- 
tion; also  beautiful  models  of  sections  of  machinery,  amongst 
which,  is  one  of  a  monitor,  which  shows  that  the  enterprising 
Emperor  does  not  mean  to  be  left  behind  in  the  appliances  for 
marine  warfare. 

But  here  again  is  a  large  crowd,  anxiously  pressing  forward 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL. 

to  catch  a  glimpse  of  some  strange  thing.  It  proves  to  be  an 
envelope  machine,  and  it  is  truly  a  marvel  of  ingenuity.  Can 
you  imagine  a  machine  that  will  pick  up  a  piece  of  paper, 
the  upper  one  of  a  large  pile,  already  cut  in  proper  shape, 
fold  it  on  four  sides,  print  a  stamp  or  card  on  it,  and  pass  it 
along,  until  twenty-five  are  collected  and  dropped  in  a  box, 
ready  to  be  wrapped  into  a  package  by  the  girl  who  works  the 
machine,  and  yet,  all  this  is  done  with  the  accuracy  and  pre- 
cision of  clockwork. 

Another  envelope  machine  performs  still  greater  marvels, 
and  may  be  justly  ranked  as  one  of  the  most  ingenious  pieces 
of  mechanism  ever  invented.  A  coil  of  white  paper,  as  wide 
as  the  length  of  the  envelope  is  placed  at  one  end  of  the  ma- 
chine, taken  into  it  and  comes  out  again  perfect  envelopes 
pasted  with  mucilage,  and  ready  for  use.  They  are  made  at 
the  rate  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  per  minute,  and  delivered 
in  packages  of  twenty-five  each,  ready  to  be  bound  for  sale. 
I  will  not  attempt  to  describe  the  ingenious  mechanism, 
but  the  envelopes  pass  over  eleven  large  wheels  in  order  to 
give  them  time  to  dry,  and  all  the  parts  work  with  such 
precision,  that  they  almost  seem  endowed  with  brains. 

Let  us  stop  a  moment  and  examine  this  strange  looking 
frame,  with  two  sails  on  it,  full  rigged.  We  find  it  to  be  an 
ice  yacht,  about  thirty  feet  long,  and  perhaps  twenty  feet 
wide  at  the  extreme.  It  is  all  frame,  there  being  only  room 


146  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

enough  at  the  stern  for  about  two  persons  to  sit  upon.  It  is 
mounted  on  runners,  and  is  rigged  very  much  like  an  ordin- 
ary sail  boat.  We  learn  by  the  card  fastened  upon  it,  a 
strange  fact  if  it  be  true,  viz :  that  it  will  move  faster  than  the 
wind,  and  the  reason  given  is  that  it  does  not  sail  merely  be- 
fore the  wind,  but  at  some  angle  to  it,  and  at  every  gust  of 
wind  receives  an  additional  movement  forward,  and  thus  out- 
strips the  wind  itself.  Whether  this  be  so  or  not,  it  is  claim- 
ed that  it  can  make  sixty  miles  an  hour,  and  this  would 
be  fast  enough  to  make  ones  brain  reel. 

But  here  is  another  crowd  which  almost  blocks  up  the  aisle, 
— let  us  see  what  is  so  interesting.  It  is  a  machine  for  stick- 
ing pins,  worked  by  a  young  lady.  It  is  difficult  to  imagine 
how  pins  thrown  together  loosely,  the  same  as  if  shoveled 
from  a  bin,  can  be  stuck  on  paper  at  the  rate  of  180,000  per 
day,  and  done  with  such  order,  and  by  one  person.  You  see 
how  this  is  accomplished;  a  small  stream  of  pins  runs  down 
this  kind  of  sluice-way,  till  they  come  to  a  narrow  groove,  just 
large  enough  for  the  body  of  the  pin,  but  not  large  enough  to 
let  the  head  through;  so  most  of  them  are  soon  hanging  on 
this  groove,  which  is  a  very  apt  illustration  of  what  a  witty 
Frenchman  suggested,  when  he  said  that  wise  men  were  like 
pins,  because  their  heads  would  not  let  them  go  too  far.  The 
pins  then  slide  down  to  a  place,  where  they  are  gradually  laid 
in  a  horizontal  position,  where  they  are  punched  into  the  pa- 


THE  WONDERS  OP  MACHINERY  HALL.  147 

per,  which  is  folded  by  the  machine  in  the  right  form.  Those 
that  do  not  fall  into  the  groove,  and  fall  over  the  sides  of  the 
sluice-way,  have  to  go  through  the  same  operation  again,  un- 
til they  are  properly  stuck  on  the  paper. 

But  this  pin  machine  is  little  in  point  of  inventive  skill, 
in  comparison  with  this  loom  for  weaving  Brussels  carpet. 
How  a  man  could  ever  invent  such  a  machine,  and  keep  from 
a  lunatic  asylum  is  a  mystery.  Here  are  large  cases,  each  full  of 
bobbins  of  differently  colored  threads,  altogether  about  one 
hundred,  which  are  necessary  to  form  the  elaborate  pattern  of 
the  carpet.  The  loom  starts  with  a  great  clatter,  and  you  see 
how  the  carpet  comes,  the  pattern  developing  every  moment. 
Here  are  looms  for  weaving  ginghams  and  plaids,  and  one  is 
here  which  will  weave  a  piece  of  canvas  about  thirty  feet  wide, 
as  you  see  by  a  piece  in  it.  This,  however,  is  a  coarse  fabric, 
and  is  used  to  make  oilcloth.  But  here  is  the  most  wonderful 
thing  of  all,  in  the  way  of  weaving,  and  worth  going  miles 
to  see.  It  is  this  English  loom  that  is  weaving  twenty  pieces 
of  these  wonderful  book  marks  and  badges,  that  are  made  of 
the  most  brilliant  colored  silks,  and  designed  with  the  greatest 
taste.  For  instance,  notice  these  in  the  loom:  at  the  top  of 
each  is  a  beautiful  design  of  various  colors  with  appropriate 
lettering;  then  a  very  accurate  portrait  of  Washington;  then 
the  motto, "  First  in  war,  first  in  peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts 
of  his  countrymen;"  then  a  view  of  one  of  the  Centennial 


148       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  QREAT  EXPOSITION. 

Buildings,  ending  with  a  beautiful  design  of  a  shield  decorated 
by  flags, — all  this  woven  thread  by  thread,  in  different  colored 
silks,  and  twenty  of  them  at  a  time,  and  you  can  perceive  it 
is  truly  a  marvel.  It  takes  three  hours  to  make  them,  so 
elaborate  is  the  design. 

On  the  stand  you  see  other  mottoes,  of  many  other  pat- 
terns. One  with  a  piece  of  music,  another  with  a  bust  of 
Shakespeare,  another  with  a  muster-roll  of  a  division  of  the 
army — in  fact  there  seems  to  be  nothing  too  complicated  for 
them  to  copy. 

But  let  us  turn  a  moment,  from  the  ornamental  to  the  use- 
ful. Do  you  see  this  ponderous  lathe,  in  which  shavings  of 
iron  can  be  turned  as  easily  as  you  can  whittle  a  pine  shingle? 
Look  at  this  immense  iron  planer,  with  platform  about  thirty 
feet  long,  and  ten  feet  wide,  on  which  the  iron  to  be  planed 
is  bolted.  See  how  it  rolls  from  one  end  of  the  track  to  the 
other,  running  under  a  strong  bar,  fastened  above,  on  which 
the  cutting  tools  are  fixed,  and  the  bar  is  then  let  down  to  the 
iron  on  the  platform,  and  the  platform  set  in  motion.  This 
will  plow  a  groove  in  a  piece  of  iron,  or  plane  a  wide  shaving, 
so  easily,  that  you  would  not  notice  a  tremor  of  the  machine. 

We  see  an  immense  hammer,  weighing  two  and  a  half  tons, 
with  a  striking  power  of  fifty  or  sixty  tons. 

Here  is  a  curiosity.  Do  you  see  that  india  rubber  ball  re- 
maining almost  stationary  in  the  air,  kept  in  place  by  a  jet  of 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  149 

compressed  air?  The  jet  of  air  is  not  thrown  out  upward, so 
that  the  ball  is  not  directly  above  it,  but  at  an  angle  of  nearly 
forty-five  degrees,and  yet  the  ball  is  not  driven  off  sideways,  but 
keeps  its  place  all  the  same.  A  wooden  ball  is  exchanged  for  the 
rubber  one,  and  yet  it  remains  just  the  same,  and  we  are  told 
that  an  iron  one  would  remain  poised  in  the  air  in  the  same 
manner. 

Here  is  a  curious  and  useful  contrivance.  Do  you  see  that 
drill,  which  turns  so  swiftly  at  the  end  of  what  seems  to  be  a 
rubber  rope,  or  tube?  The  secret  is  this.  There  is  a  flexible 
coil  of  wire  inside  the  rubber  tube,  and  this  coil  is  attached  to 
a  shaft,  anjd  so  turns  the  whole  length,  and  drives  the  drill. 
So  with  this  machine,  they  can  drill  a  hole  anywhere  in  a 
room,  or  apply  it  for  any  purpose  where  they  wish  to  employ 
power  in  different  places,  such  as  polishing  different  pieces  of 
marble,  and  many  other  purposes. 

A  steam  engine  is  so  common  a  thing,  that  we  see  them 
without  any  surprise,  but  here  is  one,  that  is  worth  a  moment's 
attention.  Notice  this  beautiful,  silver  plated  engine,  hardly 
larger  than  two  barrels,  set  on  end,  and  yet  it  has  the  power 
of  two  horses,  and  works  as  perfectly  as  possible.  You 
see  it  scarcely  requires  more  fuel  than  a  common  cooking- 
stove,  but  is  powerful  enough  to  drive  many  kinds  of 
machinery,  such  as  small  printing  presses,  turning  lathes,  etc. 

When  you  go  over  Suspension  Bridge,  at  Niagara  Falls,  for 


150  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

the  first  time,  if  you  feel  as  I  did,  you  will  sud- 
denly wonder  what  kind  of  iron  ropes  the  bridge 
is  made  of.  In  order  that  you  may  know  before- 
hand, let  us  stop  here  and  see  a  short  section  of  those 
wire  ropes.  Here  it  is,  made  of  3,640  wires,  of  pretty  good 
size,  and  these  make  a  large  rope,  about  one  foot  thick,  with  a 
sustaining  weight  of  6,000,000  Ibs.  Probably  you  may  have 
heard  how  a  suspension  bridge  is  now  being  constructed 
between  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  over  East  river,  so  high, 
that  vessels  with  tall  masts,  can,  pass  under;  and  here  we  can 
see  a  section  of  the  wire  rope  to  be  used  there.  It  is  made  of 
seven  thousand  wires,  about  the  size  of  ordinary  fence  wire, 
which  make  an  immense  rope,  about  one  foot  and  a  half  thick, 
and  strong  enough  to  sustain  the  enormous  weight  of 
22,300,000  pounds. 

This  powerful  machine  here,  with  such  ponderous  iron 
castings,  seems  to  be  for  pressing  cotton  into  bales.  We 
knew  that  cotton  was  baled,  but  not  that  such  immense 
power  was  needed  to  make  the  bales.  Here  is  one,  and  you 
notice  that  the  cotton  is  almost  solid. 

Here  we  come  to  a  part  of  the  hall,  which,  with  the  aid  of 
a  little  imagination,  we  might  think,  was  an  enchanted  pal- 
ace. There  are  sewing  machines  of  all  patterns;  silver 
plated,  gilt,  polished,  lacquered,  glittering  like  flashing  jewels, 
as  they  swiftly  whirl,  while  all  around  are  beautiful  wax 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  151 

figures,  turned  by  automatic  machinery,  and  showing  on  each 
side,  the  richest  robes  of  white  satin,  or  colored  silks, 
covered  by  the  most  lavish  embroidery  of  gilt  lace,  and 
reflecting  all  the  hues  of  the  rainbow. 

Here  are  fire  engines,  painted  in  the  most  ornamental  man- 
ner, and  fairly  ablaze  with  gilt  and  silver  plating,  and  lus- 
trous varnish. 

This  circular  saw  is  said  to  be  the  largest  in  the  world, 
and  surely  large  enough  for  all  purposes,  except,  possibly,  to 
saw  the  big  trees  of  California.  It  has  a  diameter  of  one 
hundred  inches,  and  the  teeth  are  like  cruel  fangs,  fairly 
aching  to  let  daylight  into  the  heart  of  a  solid  log. 

But  now  we  have  come  to  a  piece  of  mechanism,  which  has 
become  famous  throughout  the  civilized  world,  and  which  has 
had  a  sublime  part  in  the  celebration  of  our  centennial  year. 
I  refer  to  that  monster  with  those  great  beams  going  up  and 
down,  first  one,  and  then  the  other,  ten  feet  up,  and  then  ten 
feet  down,  hung  up  as  high  as  a  large  barn,  about  thirty  feet, 
the  immense  balance  wheel,  thirty  feet  in  diameter,  with  a 
rim  of  solid  iron,  about  sixteen  inches  square,  and  which 
makes  a  breeze,  as  it  whirls  around.  See  the  ladders  that  go 
away  up,  on  each  side,  to  the  top  of  the  working  beams,  and 
up  the  sort  of  passage,  that  is  railed  off  all  around  it,  so  that 
they  can  oil  and  repair  it.  As  we  see  it  move,  we  might 
imagine  it  to  be  old  Thor,  himself,  with  thews  of  steel,  and 


152        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION". 

heart  of  fire.  I  heard  one  of  the  guards  say,  that  when  Pres- 
ident Grant,  and  Emperor  Dom  Pedro,  of  Brazil,  opened  the 
Exposition,  they,  at  a  signal,  moved  this  lever,  and  the  pon- 
derous cranks  and  wheel  started,  as  if  instinct  with  life,  and 
at  that  moment,  five  miles  of  machinery  started  at  once  into 
active  operation ;  all  along  that  five  miles,  the  operators  were 
standing  ready  for  the  signal,  and  in  an  instant,  all  were  at 
work,  the  looms  weaving  their  varied  fabrics,  the  printing 
presses  throwing  off  their  sheets  like  huge  snow  flakes,  and 
pumps,  lathes,  drills,  hammers,  and  the  wilderness  of  machin- 
ery, which  you  see  around  you,  were  humming,  pounding, 
whirring,  and  clattering,  a  grand  chorus  and  tribute  to  their 
unsceptered  monarch, — "  Industry." 

But  let  us  go  toward  that  rushing  sound  of  many  waters, 
as  if  a  hundred  cataracts  were  falling,  and  we  behold  the  pump 
department.  Here  is  a  reservoir,  the  size  of  a  respectable  pond, 
in  which  are  poured  about  fifty  streams  of  water,  from  pipes, 
from  an  inch,  to  afoot  in  diameter;  and  at  the  end,  is  a  gen- 
uine waterfall,  about  thirty  feet  high,  and  the  same  in  width, 
which  sweeps  over  the  verge,  like  a  wide  ribbon  of  satin,  and 
in  falling,  breaks  up  into  tassels.  All  the  water  for  this 
waterfall,  is  raised  by  that  little  steam  engine,  below  it,  which, 
although  small  enough  to  stand  in  a  room  twelve  feet  square, 
has  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  horse  power,  and  is  a  model 
of  simplicity,  compactness,  and  power. 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  153 

But  let  us  see  these  huge  machines  on  this  side,  which 
roar  so  loudly.  We  find  that  they  are  blowers,  for  pumping 
air  in  mines,  and  for  creating  a  draft  of  air  for  blast  furnaces, 
and  are  made  by  revolving  fans  in  tight  compartments,  which 
make  about  three  hundred  revolutions  a  minute,  which  is 
so  fast  that  you  cannot  see  the  arms  whirl.  Here  is  one 
which  sends  out  such  a  strong  current  of  air,  that  you  can- 
not stand  before  it.  Hold  on  your  hat,  and  let  us  go  up  as 
near  as  we  can.  The  air  almost  pounds  our  faces,  and  those 
wearing  wigs,  had  better  not  try  the  experiment,  for  the  air 
comes  rushing  out,  like  a  concentrated  hurricane. 

Here  is  a  a  painting  machine  that  will  paint,  it  js  claimed, 
eight  hundred  slats  for  blinds  in  an  hour,  and  it  is  a  small 
machine  too,  only  about  four  feet  high,  and  two  feet  square. 
The  articles  are  passed  through  it,  and  come  in  contact  with 
a  revolving  brush,  which  is  supplied  by  paint  in  a  trough. 

Let  us  examine  a  moment  this  immense  steam-wagon  for  road 
or  farm  work,  which  looks  something  like  a  rail  way  locomotive. 
The  wheels  are  about  a  foot  wide,  and  rough,  so  that  they 
will  not  slide  on  the  ground;  but  it  looks  so  heavy  and  cum- 
bersome, that  you  would  not  think  it  could  do  more  than 
move  itself,  but  we  are  told  that  it  has  drawn  twenty  tons,  and 
is  made  for  plowing,  driving  thrashing  machines,  pulling 
stumps  and  many  other  purposes.  It  has  sixteen  horse  pow- 
er. Speaking  of  steam- wagons,  you  remember  the  steam-car- 


154      BEN  BEVBBLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

riage  we  saw  on  the  drive  in  Fairmount  Park,  driven  by  a 
small  steam-engine  behind,  about  as  large  as  a  barrel,  guided 
by  a  man  sitting  in  front,  who  turns  the  wheels  as  he  pleases, 
and  the  carriage  has  room  enough  besides  for  about  eight 
passengers, — one  of  the  lighest,  airiest  affairs  of  the  kind,  that 
can  be  imagined.  It  seems  to  be  perfectly  manageable,  as 
much  so  as  a  well  broken  horse,  and  can  be  turned  as  easily. 
The  steam  is  turned  down  towards  the  ground,  and  makes 
but  little  noise,  and  I  do  not  see  why  they  can  not  be  used 
for  pleasure  wagons,  on  park  drives,  or  smooth  roads. 

But  here  we  come  to  the  German  department,  and  every 
thing  we  see,  gives  us  the  impression  of  a  vigorous  and  indus- 
trious people.  Look,  for  instance,  at  this  immense  plate  of 
iron,  an  inch  and  half  thick,  thirty  feet  long,  and  about  four 
feet  wide,  or  at  this  tremendous  iron  beam  for  bridge  or  build- 
ing, about  fifty  feet  long,  and  eighteen  inches  high;  while  all 
around  are  immense  bars  and  bolts,  and  plates  of  iron  of  al- 
most every  size  and  weight,  with  specimens  of  their  numer- 
ous ores.  Here,  also,  is  the  famous Krupp cannon;  and  a  giant 
it  is  truly,  and  looks  as  if  it  could  sink  the  largest  war  vessel 
afloat.  It  is  about  thirty  feet  long,  without  the  frame  which 
extends  back  about  fifteen  feet  farther,  and  is  made  to  be  se- 
curely fastened  to  the  floor  by  strong  bolts.  At  the  base,  it 
is  about  five  feet  thick,  but  is  much  smaller  in  diameter  at  the 
muzzle.  It  is  a  breach  loader,  and  is  made  for  a  ship  of  war.  In 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHIlfEBT  HALL.  155 

the  rear,  there  is  a  platform  and  railing  for  the  man  to  stand 
on  who  sights  it,  and  it  can  be  raised  or  lowered  at  pleasure, 
by  turning  these  cranks,  which  are  attached  to  very  compli- 
cated looking  machinery.  The  ball  lies  there  by  its  side,  about 
three  and  a  half  feet  long,  made  of  the  hardest  iron,  pointed 
and  about  fourteen  inches  through.  It  weighs  550  Tbs,  and  is 
raised  and  moved  to  its  place  by  this^derrick  at  the  side,  which 
is  turned  by  a  crank.  It  throws  this  ball  from  fifteen  to 
sixteen  miles,  and  the  weight  of  the  cannon  without  the  car- 
riage, is  fifty-nine  tons. 

See  this  enormous  crank  and  shaft,  for  a  steam-engine, 
which  is  about  sixteen  inches  in  diameter,  and  made  of  forged 
iron.  Here,  also,  are  models  of  mounted  artillery,  three  horses 
being  packed  with  a  cannon  taken  to  pieces,  the  size  of  the 
cannon  being  about  four  feet  long,  and  six  inches  in  diameter. 

We  come  now  to  a  strange  looking  engine.  Perhaps  you 
think  that  all  engines  are  driven  by  steam;  if  so,  you  will  see 
this  is  driven  by  another  motive  power.  It  is  quite  a  large 
engine,  having  a  balance  wheel  about  six  feet  in  diameter,  and 
a  rim  four  or  five  inches  square,  making  a  heavy '  amount  of 
metal,  and  yet  it  is  operated  by  that  single  gas  jet,  that  you 
see  burning  at  the  bottom.  Gas  and  air  are  burned  in  such 
proportions  that  a  mild  explosion  takes  place  about  every  min- 
ute, sending  a  piston  upward  about  a  foot,  which  communi- 


156       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

cates  the  motion  to  the  balance  wheel,  and  gives  it  a  power 
equal  to  two  horses. 

Now  we  have  reached  the  department  of  Great  Britain;  and 
we  see  again  all  around  us,  the  most  powerful  machinery  for 
working  iron.  Look  at  this  machine  for  cutting  iron;  that 
strong  thick  blade  which  rises  and  falls  so  majestically,  will  cut 
a  bar  of  cold  iron  an  inch  and  a  quarter  thick,  and  four  inches 
wide,  as  easily  as  you  can  work  a  pair  of  scissors.  This  enor- 
mous hammer  which  weighs  two  and  a  half  tons,  and  has  a 
striking  weight  of  from  fifty  to  sixty  tons,  is  made  for  forg- 
ing heavy  iron,  and  can  be  made  to  work  as  softly  as  a  lady 
tapping  your  shoulder  with  her  fan,  or  to  thump  hard  enough 
as  to  almost  deafen  your  ears,  and  shake  the  whole  building. 

Here  is  a  curiosity;  it  is  this  section  of  steel  armor  plate, 
nine  inches  thick,  the  same  as  used  in  plating  the  outside  of 
war  vessels ;  but  this  has  been  fired  at,  from  a  distance  of 
thirty  feet,  by  a  pointed  rifle  ball,  seven  inches  in  diameter, 
and  made  of  the  hardest  chilled  iron,  harder  than  steel,  and 
charged  by  fourteen  pounds  of  powder.  See  those  great  holes 
about  eight  inches  deep,  in  the  hard  steel,  which  the  balls 
made.  Here  is  another  plate,  eight  inches  in  thickness,  which 
has  been  fired  at  from  the  same  distance,  with  a  round  ball 
weighing  sixty-eight  pounds,  and  charged  with  thirteen 
pounds  of  powder,  and  the  dents  are  only  about  an  inch  deep. 
That  last  pound  of  powder,  and  the  ball  being  round 


BIG     HAMMER. 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  159 

instead  of  pointed,  makes  a  wonderful  difference  in  the 
effectiveness  of  the  shot.  Here  is  a  man  in  charge  of  the  ma- 
chinery who  has  the  face  of  an  inventor,  and  I  venture  to  say, 
is  a  natural  mechanic, — let  us  ask  him  a  few  questions.  He 
tells  us  that  this  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  iron,  is 
destined  to  work  a  revolution  in  the  iron  interests  of  this 
country,  so  perfectly  does  it  do  its  work.  He  also  tells  us 
that  this  piece  of  armor  plate,  made  of  steel  fourteen  inches 
thick,  is  used  for  plating  war  vessels,  and  that  Great  Britain 
has  two  vessels  plated  with  armor  steel  twenty-four  inches  in 
imckness,  and  wonderful  to  say,  that  they  have  recently  fired 
a  ball  entirely  through  it,  from  an  enormous  cannon,  weigh- 
ing eighty  tons  without  the  carriage,  the  most  powerful  of  any 
yet  made.  Here  is  a  labyrinth  of  machinery,  for  spinning 
cotton  and  jute,  and  various  kinds  of  looms,  amongst  which  is 
the  loom  we  saw  before,  making  badges  and  book-marks.  That 
little  island  in  the  sea,  has  piled  up  her  fabulous  wealth,  and 
retains  her  supremacy  very  largely,  by  the  wonderful  extent 
of  her  manufactures,  and  here  we  can  see  a  proof  of  her  skill, 
in  almost  every  department  of  industry.  Here  is  a  suit  made 
for  men,  who  work  in  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  The  body  and 
legs  are  made  from  strong  canvass  india  rubber  cloth,  fas- 
tened to  a  pair  of  heavy  shoes  with  a  sole  of  lead,  about  an 
inch  thick,  to  keep  the  feet  down.  The  head  piece  is  made  of 
metal,  large  enough  for  the  head  to  turn  around  to  one  side, 


160       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

and  look  out  of  the  glass  windows,  which  you  see  in  front  and 
at  each  side.  This  head  piece  is  joined  to  a  plate  of  iron  which 
sits  on  the  shoulders,  and  the  whole  is  fastened  together,  so  as 
to  keep  the  Avater  out,  and  then  air  is  pumped  in  the  head 
through  that  small  india  rubber  tube, which  you  see  is  attached. 
A  heavy  lead  weight  is  hung  upon  the^diver's  breast,  so  that  he 
will  not  be  thrown  backward  and  lose  his  balance,  but  it  does 
not  look  like  a  comfortable  thing  to  wear,  and  it  must  take  a 
strong  and  brave  man  to  put  it  on,  and  then  go  down,  and 
down,  in  the  dark  water,  to  work  amongst  unfortunate  wrecks, 
and  perhaps  meet  with  the  ghastly  bodies  of  those  who  went 
down  with  them. 

But  here  we  come  to  the  display  of  iron,  and  machinery, 
from  Pennsylvania;  and  surely,  this  noble  State  need  not  be 
ashamed,  for  in  extent  and  variety,  it  is  a  grand  exhibition. 
One  thing  we  must  remember,  that  our  prosperity,  as  a  nation, 
is  dependent,  to  a  great  extent,  on  the  success  of  our  manu- 
facturing interests.  We  look,  in  vain,  to  find  a  merely  agri- 
cultural people,  who  have  become  a  great  and  prosperous 
nation.  The  clatter  of  the  loom,  the  whir  of  the  spindle, 
and  the  thunders  of  the  forge,  must  mingle  with  the  buzz  of 
the  thrashing  machine,  and  the  rattle  of  the  reaper,  in  order 
to  form  a  perfect  harmony  of  Plenty  and  Prosperity. 

Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  machine,  into  which  a  rod  of  iron 
is  placed,  and  horseshoes  come  out  at  the  rate   of  sixty   per 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  161 

minute,  all  perfect,  with  nail  holes  and  creases,  and  ready  to 
put  the  corks  on  for  use?  Here  is  just  such  an  one,  and  it  will 
make  all  sizes  from  different  sized  rods  of  iron,  and  it  is  not  a 
very  large  machine  either,  but  it  is  such  a  mass  of  ingenious 
mechanism,  that  I  can  not  stop  to  describe  just  how  it  works. 

Here  is  a  powerful  machine  for  rolling  brass.  Those  large 
rollers  weigh  two  tons  and  a  half  each,  and  are  made  of 
chilled  iron,  which  is  harder  than  steel.  They  are  set  quite 
close  together,  and  will  roll  a  bar  of  brass  into  sheets,  as 
smooth  and  thin  as  desired.  But  we  catch  sight  of  another 
crowd,  and  of  course  there  must  be  something  interesting  to 
be  seen.  We  find  they  are  watching  a  little  saw,  as  fine  as  a 
wire,  with  which  a  man  is  sawing  out  fanciful  chairs,  from 
solid  blocks  of  wood,  which  are  bought  as  fast  as  made.  The 
operator  can  make  so  true  and  perfect  a  cut,  that  these  inlaid 
figures  of  men,  trees,  and  animals,  have  all  been  cut  out,  and 
the  pieces  of  differently  colored  wood,  cut  to  fit  the  spaces, 
have  all  been  made  by  this  saw.  It  will  turn  a  sharp  corner 
a  hundred  times  easier,  thaji  our  sharpest  financiers,  and  no 
figure  so  fantastic  that  it  can  not  trace. 

I  always  supposed,  that  tacks  were  made  by  machinery,  for 
when  a  whole  paper  of  tacks  can  be  made,  packed,  tied  up, 
labeled,  and  sold  for  a  few  cents,  still  leaving  a  chance  for  two 
or  three  profits,  I  thought,  of  course,  not  very  much  time  was 
spent  on  each  tack;  but  I  never  knew  that  each  machine 


162  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

would  make  450  per  minute,  of  any  size,  according  to  the  size 
of  the  rod  used,  from  a  little  one,  less  than  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  long,  to  those  an  inch  and  a  quarter  in  length.  Here 
are  a  whole  row  of  machines,  each  having  a  sort  of  arm,  with 
groove  in  it,  in  which  the  rod  of  iron  is  laid,  and  it  is  then 
drawn  in  and  made  into  tacks,  which  fall  down  underneath, 
like  a  pouring  rain.  The  machine  proper,  is  only  about  two 
feet  square. 

But  we  come  to  another  crowd,  and  we  will  join  them,  to 
see  what  is  going  on.  There  is  a  beautiful  wooden  goblet  on 
a  stand,  the  bottom  variegated,  like  a  checkerboard,  and  the 
sides  an  alternation  of  differently  colored  woods.  It  is  a  puz- 
zle to  imagine  how  it  can  be  made,  but  here  is  the  solution,  as 
we  see.  Pieces  of  black  walnut  and  ash,  about  half  an  inch 
square,  are  fitted  and  glued  together,  until  a  piece  of  wood  as 
large  as  the  goblet,  is  made.  This  is  then  put  in  the  lathe, 
and  turned,  as  the  turner  is  now  doing,  and  when  oiled  and 
polished  in  the  lathe,  makes  a  very  pretty  ornament.  As  we 
pass  along,  notice  this  little  machine,  which  makes,  what  is 
called,  the  Centennial  Corkscrew.  A  small  piece  of  wire  is 
put  in,  and  out  it  comes,  a  complete  corkscrew,  handle  and 
all.  Also,  notice  this  very  pretty  machine,  for  making  corks. 
The  rough  corks  are  put  in  a  little  slide,  and  roll  down,  and 
are  caught  in  a  little  lathe,  and  a  sharp  plate,  revolving  hori- 
zontally, and  a  little  chisel,  turn  them  to  the  proper  size,  at 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  163 

one  revolution,  when  they  are  dropped,  and  roll  away,  and 
another  is  taken  up  the  same  way. 

Here  is  a  very  ingenious  machine  for  sharpening  large  cir- 
cular saws.  The  saw  is  put  in  the  frame,  and  an  arm,  on 
which  an  emory  wheel  revolves  very  swiftly,  moves  carefully 
and  precisely,  as  if  endowed  with  reason,  just  to  the  right 
place  on  the  saw  tooth. — for  an  instant  the  emery  wheel 
touches  the  tooth,  followed  by  a  stream  of  sparks,  the  work  is 
done,  and  away  it  goes  to  the  next. 

Did  you  ever  pity  a  man  drilling  holes  in  marble  and  stone, 
so  that  it  could  be  broken  in  the  proper  places?  You  have 
seen  them  stand,  lifting  up  the  drill,  which  looked  like  a 
crowbar,  with  a  blade  at  the  end,  turning  it  a  little,  and  then 
letting  it  drop,  and  so  on,  through  the  long  tedious  days,  in 
the  hot  sun,  or  the  cold  rain.  Here  is  a  machine  to  do  the 
same  thing,  but  it  has  this  advantage,  that  it  works  several 
drills  at  the  same  time.  See  how  regularly  the  drill  strikes, 
every  time  turning  a  little,  so  that  it  will  not  strike  in  the 
same  niche  as  before.  And  so  the  hard,  tedious  labor  of  the 
world  is  gradually  being  transferred  from  man,  to  machinery; 
and  what  a  world  of  aches  and  pains  are  thus  prevented. 

Notice  this  large  case  of  files,  some  as  fine  as  the  threads 
of  fine  linen,  and  others,  like  jagged,  serpent's  teeth.  One 
monster,  about  nine  feet  long,  and  eight  inches  wide,  said  to 
be  the  largest  in  the  world,  is  hung  up  for  a  sign,  and  its, 


164  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

sides  are  covered  by  pictures  of  ships,  docks,  buildings,  and 
other  designs,  just  to  show  what  can  be  done. 

Here  we  come  to  a  department  devoted  to  leather,  and  its 
manufacture  into  boots  and  shoes,  and  harnesses.  Look  at 
the  gang  of  men,  making  boots,  and  notice  how  the  labor  is 
divided,  so  that  every  man  has  a  certain  part  to  do,  and  so 
becomes  wonderfully  quick  and  expert,  in  doing  it;  so  we  see 
that  a  boot  passes  through  a  good  many  different  hands,  and 
operations.  First,  here  is  a  man  who  is  crimping,  or  stretch- 
ing the  leather,  for  the  first  part  of  the  boot,  on  a  machine; 
then  another  sews  the  seams,  as  you  see ;  then  this  one  takes 
them  and  puts  on  the  sole;  another  puts  on  the  heel,  the 
next  pegs  on  the  sole,  the  next  trims  them,  and  the  last 
works  a  machine  which  stretches  them,  when  he  rubs  out  the 
wrinkles,  and  makes  them  smooth,  and  polishes  them,  by  put- 
ting on  several  preparations,  which  give  them  the  rich,  shin- 
ing surface,  which  you  see.  Here  are  shoes  in  gilt  and  silver, 
so  dainty  and  exquisite,  that  they  might  have  been  made  for 
Cinderella  herself.  One  of  the  most  ingenious  machines,  is 
this,  for  pegging  boots  and  shoes.  The  boot  is  placed  on  this 
sort  of  frame,  and  placed  under  the  machine.  A  coil  of  wood, 
like  a  shaving  across  the  grain  of  the  wood,  of  proper  length 
for  pegs,  and  edges  beveled,  is  on  one  side,  and  the  machine 
first  makes  a  hole  with  an  awl,  that  works  up  and  down,  then 
splits  off  a  piece  of  the  wood  from  the  end  of  the  coil,  just  the 


TOE  WONDERS  OP  MACHINERY  HALL.  165 

thickness  of  the  peg,  and  then  places  it  in  the  hole,  and 
drives  it  down ;  and  all  of  these  operations  are  done  so  swiftly, 
that  the  pegs  are  driven  as  fast  as  the  clicks  of  a  sewing 
machine;  or,  at  the  wonderful  speed  of  nine  hundred  pegs  a 
minute. 

You  have  heard  of  gold  and  silver  quartz  mining  in  which 
the  hard  rock  is  crushed,  and  the  fine  particles  of  silver  and 
gold  are  separated  from  the  ore;  this  large  machine  is  for 
stamping  the  ore,  and  will  pulverize  one  hundred  and  twenty 
tons  a  day  of  the  hard  flinty  rock,  which  you  see  lying  there,  and 
which  does  not  look  as  if  it  was  of  any  value.  The  mill  is  about 
twenty-five  feet  high,  made  of  a  very  heavy  frame,  and  the  rock 
is  dumped  on  that  platform  above,  after  being  broken  small 
enough  to  be  thrown  through  a  hole  about  five  inches  in  di- 
ameter, which  lets  it  down  under  the  immense  pestle. 

Here  is  a  new  machine  for  dressing  stone,  which,  judging 
from  these  chips  taken  off, which  are  as  large  as  a  man's  hand, 
seems  to  be  a  success.  The  piece  of  stone  passes  under  two 
revolving  cylinders,  each  having  eighteen  cutters  fastened  to 
it,  in  such  a  way,  that  they  do  not  strike  the  stone  solidly, 
but  are  elastic  so  that  they  rebound  at  every  blow.  The  first 
dresses  it  in  the  rough,  the  second  smoothes  it,  while  the 
third,  with  stationary  steel  knives,  gives  it  a  very  fine  finish. 
This  specimen  of  very  hard  rock,  showing  the  successive  stages, 
illustrates  exactly  how  it  is  done. 


166       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION". 

Near  to  it,  is  a  large  circular  saw,  about  six  feet  in  diame- 
ter, for  sawing  stone.  At  the  end  of  each  tooth  in  the  saw, 
a  diamond  is  set,  as  hard  as  those  used  by  jewelers,  but  not 
as  valuable,  because  they  are  discolored.  A  pure  diamond 
of  same  size  would  be  worth  about  $200,  while  these,  are  worth 
only  $20  or  $25. 

But  here  another  great  gathering  has  formed,  and  we 
find  them  watching  a  blind  lady  working  a  knitting  machine, 
which,  just  at  present,  seems  to  be  out  of  order;  and  she  is 
taking  out  certain  parts,  arranging  them  and  putting  them 
back,  as  quickly  as  any  one  could;  and  watch  how  easily  she 
finds  her  scissors,  cuts  a  thread,  puts  them  down  again  on  the 
stand,  takes  up  another  article  and  uses  it;  in  a  moment  the 
machine  is  in  proper  order  again,  and  she  turns  the  crank  and 
down  the  stocking  comes.  • 

Here  is  something  worth  seeing,  that  shows  us  that  virtue, 
genius,  and  a  life  of  genuine  service  to  mankind,  will  almost 
consecrate  whatever  it  touches,  making  their  very  implements 
of  toil  to  be  sacred  things.  For  instance,  here  is  an  old  print- 
ing press,  that  intrinsically,  is  worth  nothing,  except  to  burn; 
an  old,  stained,  oiled,  scorched  and  antiquated  affair,  of  the 
most  primitive  fashion,  about  seven  feet  high,  working  with 
a  crank,  and  requiring  a  minute  or  two  of  severe  labor  to 
make  one  impression;  yet  if  you  offered  a  small  fortune 
for  this  rickety  superannuated  article,  it  would  be  rejected. 


THE     MISSISSIPPI     BUILDING. 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  169 

And  the  secret  is  this, — Benjamin  Franklin,  when  a  journeyT 
man  printer  in  London,  worked  at  this  press,  and  made  it 
immortal;  and  across  the  ocean  it  has  been  brought,  to  be 
sketched  and  photographed,  and  written  about,  and  preserved 
with  the  most  rigid  care,  to  bless  the  eyes  of  coming  genera- 
tions. Verily,  this  is  a  world  of  rewards  and  retributions  af- 
ter all,  and  this  old  machine  is  a  capital  text  to  illustrate  the 
doctrine.  The  poor  boy  who  wearily  trudged  through  the 
streets  of  this  very  city,  munching  the  morsels  of  bread 
which  he  pinched  from  the  loaf  under  his  arm,  did  not  prob- 
ably have  a  dream  of  fame,  nor  of  his  future  life  of  usefulness. 

But  I  must  not  stop  to  moralize,  but  we  will  see  what  at- 
tracts so  many  on  this  corner.  We  find  a  glass-blower  at 
work  making  vases  of  flowers;  beautiful  birds  of  different 
colors,  with  long  sweeping  tails,  and  many  other  things,  cu- 
rious and  ingenious.  Notice  how  he  makes  that  bird's  wing 
of  white  glass,  drawing  out  the  melted  glass,  and  leaving  just 
enough  on  the  body  of  the  bird  to  fall  down  as  it  hardens, 
and  droop  just  like  a  bird's  wing.  It  is  wonderful  how  expert 
these  glass-blowers  can  become.  All  of  these  ornaments  are 
made  from  tubes  of  glass,  which  he  blows,  rolls  and  shapes 
into  any  desired  form,  and  with  these  sticks  of  different  col- 
ored glass.  Here  is  a  glass  steam-engine  which  he  has  made, 
— balance-wheel,  shafts,  piston,  cylinder, — every  part  made  of 


170      BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GEEAT  EXPOSITION. 

glass,  and  it  is  working  slowly  and  cautiously  as  if  it  was 
conscious  of  what  it  was  made. 

There  is  a  working  model  of  a  stamp  mill,  from  the  silver 
mining  regions  at  Lake  Superior,  which  gives  one  an  excel- 
lent idea  of  those  important  industries,  without  taking  the 
time  to  go  to  see  them.  The  model  is  complete,  showing  the 
buildings  and  machinery,  and  is  worked  by  a  small  steam- 
engine,  which  sets  the  whole  establishment  in  operation,  and 
the  little  stamps  make  a  noise  that  is  almost  deafening.  The 
ore  is  run  up  an  elevated  track,  and  dumped  down  on  a  plat- 
form near  the  stamps,  and  when  crushed  it  is  carried  by  a 
stream  of  water,  over  a  series  of  sieves  and  after  many  com- 
plicated processes,  the  silver  is  at  last  separated  from  the  ore. 
There  were  four  stamps,  and  six  boilers  arid  engines,  and  the 
whole  affair  is  on  such  a  scale  of  magnitude,  as  to  surprise  all 
who  are  not  familiar  with  this  branch  of  industry.  The 
buildings  are  enormous,  and  the  machinery  expensive  and 
complicated,  and  there  must  be  a  princely  fortune  invested  in 
the  enterprise. 

A  very  ingenious  little  apparatus  is  shown,  which  is  called 
a  drawing  machine,  and  which  seemingly,  could  be  made  of 
great  assistance  in  sketching  from  pictures.  A  little  frame- 
work of  light  pieces  of  wood  is  attached  to  the  table,  one 
part  of  which,  is  guided  to  trace  the  lines  on  the  copy,  and 
that  moves  another  arm  in  which  is  inserted  a  pencil,  and 


THE  ARKANSAS  BUILDING,     (p.  176.) 


THE  WONDERS  OF  MACHINERY  HALL.  173 

corresponding  lines  are  marked  by  it,  on  the  white  paper 
below.  We  notice  a  shingle  machine,  which  is  a  large  hori- 
zontal wheel  with  cutters  in  it,  connected  with  elaborate 
machinery  and  which  has  a  hungry  look.  Above  it  is  a  placard, 
"Fingers  cut  off,  free"  which  generous  proposition  is  looked 
upon  with  suspicion,  and  most  people  are  careful  to  keep  at 
arms  length.  Another  large  machine  is  one  for  working  bar- 
rels; but  you  must  not  suppose  a  log  of  wood  is  thrust  in  at 
one  end,  and  a  barrel  comes  out  of  the  other.  Its  purpose 
seems  to  be  particularly,  to  bring  the  staves  in  shape,  so  that 
they  can  be  easily  hooped,  and  for  this,  the  staves  are  set  in 
place;  a  heavy  iron  hoop  is  placed  round  them;  they  are  then 
put  in  the  machine,  and  girthed  by  strong  iron  hoops,  which 
are  forced  down  by  this  wonderful  mechanism,  until  the  joints 
are  as  close  as  possible,  and  thus  the  process  of  barrel-making 
is  greatly  facilitated. 

We  have  now  passed  through  this  wonderful  maze  of  ma- 
chinery, and  noticed  the  most  remarkable  objects  of  interest; 
and  shall  long  remember  these  triumphs  of  man's  inventive 
genius,  which  do  so  much  to  lighten  the  labor  of  mankind, 
and  to  minister  to  the  wants  of  our  daily  lives. 


Attractions  in  The  State  Buildings, 


Many  of  the  States  have  erected  tasteful  and  elegant 
buildings,  in  which  there  are  registers  for  the  citizens  of  each 
respective  State,  a  reading  room,  and  facilities  for  writing ; 
also  reception  rooms,  generally  very  prettily  furnished.  Some 
of  these  buildings  contain  articles  of  historical  interest, 
amongst  which  are  many  of  the  most  valuable  portraits  in 
oil,  in  the  country,  which  are  worthy  one's  notice,  as  well  as 
limited  displays  of  their  respective  productions.  West  Vir- 
ginia makes  a  very  exhaustive  showing  of  her  resources, — a 
splendid  variety  of  her  native  woods,  some  of  which  are  very 
beautiful;  for  instance,  a  specimen  of  black  walnut  so  gnarled 
and  curled  as  to  resemble  the  eruption  of  a  volcano,  and  pop- 
lar boards  that  look  as  if  inlaid  with  large  pearls. 

In  the  Arkansas  building  is  a  curious  specimen  of  decayed 
wood,  petrified,  and  having  the  color  of  rotten  wood;  also 
one  of  petrified  honey,  the  marks  of  the  honey  comb  being 
plainly  visible.  Then  there  is  a  piece  of  magnetic  iron  ore 
from  Holly  Springs,  which  holds  by  its  magnetic  attraction  a 


THE     MISSISSIPPI     BUILDING. 


ATTRACTIONS  IN  THE  STATE  BUILDINGS.  177 

nail  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees;  and  at  the  end  of  this, 
smaller  nails  are  held,  one  after  the  other,  by  the  same  power, 
as  if  all  were  glued  together.  Among  a  collection  of  Indian 
relics,  composed  of  arrow  and  spear  heads,  pestles,  and  earth- 
enware vessels,  found  in  mounds  in  the  State,  there  lies  a 
barbarous  looking  iron  instrument,  very  old  and  rusty,  which 
few  would  guess  was  a  horse's  bit;  but  we  are  told  that  it  is 
an  old  Spanish  bit,  and  a  cruel  thing  it  looks,  to  put  into  a 
horse's  mouth,  and  any  one  that  would  do  it,  must  be  a  stranger 
to  mercy. 

Canada  has  erected  a  very  picturesque,  but  rude  buildingf 
made  of  logs  and  lumber.  Huge  pine  logs,  set  on  end  form 
pillars  to  support  the  roof,  lumber  is  piled  up  to  make  the 
stairs,  and  partitions,  and  an  immense  pine  plank,  nine  feet 
wide,  and  about  twenty  feet  long,  makes  a  spacious  table. 
This  plank  was  cut  from  a  tree  289  feet  high,  12  feet  in  di- 
ameter at  the  ground,  and  of  603  years  growth,  as  can  be 
ascertained  by  counting  the  lines  of  growth  on  the  end. 
Bunker  Hill  monument  is  220  feet  high.  Let  those  who 
have  looked  from  the  top  of  that,  imagine  a  tree  69  feet 
higher,  and  you  can  form  some  conception  of  the  height  of 
this  tree.  The  Mississippi  building  is  also  built  of  logs, 
adorned  with  rustic  work,  and  draped  with  those  peculiar 
hanging  mosses  which  grow  in  their  forests,  trailing  down 


178       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

four  or  five  feet,  and  giving  to  it  a  weird   and   mournful 
aspect. 

California  shows  the  process  of  silk  growing, — we  can  see 
the  worms  eating  the  mulberry  leaves,  and  the  beautiful  co- 
coons in  all  stages  of  growth;  and,  judging  from  the  speci- 
mens here,  it  would  seem  that  this  could  be  made  an  import- 
ant interest  in  that  State.  The  beauty  and  variety  of  the 
native  woods  are  also  finely  illustrated  by  many  samples. 

The  Maryland  building  contains  a  striking  portrait  of 
Charles  Carroll,  which  belongs  to  the  Historical  Society  of 
that  State.  It  shows  a  fine,  dignified,  intellectual  face,  gray- 
ish hair,  large  blue  eyes,  aquiline  nose,  and  a  firm  mouth  and 
chin. 

We  see  the  banner  which  Pulaski  carried  at  the  head  of 
his  legion  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  It  was  made  by  Mo- 
ravian women,  of  gilt  cloth,  and  fringed  with  heavy  gold  lace, 
and  is  about  two  feet  square.  It  has  thirteen  stars  in  the 
centre,  and  bears  the  motto,  "Non  alius  regit." 

There  is  the  portrait  of  Stephen  Decatur,  the  daring  naval 
commander,  in  full  military  uniform, — a  fine  dark  face,  with 
a  daring  look  that  borders  on  recklessness. 

There  is  also  a  portrait  of  Lord  Mansfield,  the  famous  advo- 
cate and  Lord  Chancellor  of  England,  whose  career  every  law 
student  reads  with  delight.  It  shows  a  face  almost  feminine, 
so  regular  and  fair  and  delicate;  large  eyes,  a  large  nose, 


THE     CONNECTICUT     BUILDING. 


ATTfi ACTIONS  IX  THE  STATE  BUILDINGS.  181 

broad,  but  well  shaped,  and  a  pleasant  beautiful  mouth ;  all  set 
off  like  a  bright  picture  in  a  frame,  by  his  flowing  wig,  and  a 
rich  robe  of  ermine.  In  the  Maine  building  is  an  oil  paint- 
ing of  "John  Alden  and  Priscilla,"  by  Ernest  Longfellow, 
the  son  of  the  poet.  They  are  walking  on  the  sea-shore,  his, 
a  smooth-cheeked,  youthful,  yet  thoughtful  face,  with  long 
curls  and  the  broad-brimmed  hat  and  wide  collar  of  that  time, 
hers,  a  sweet,  gentle  face,  encased  in  white  cap,  and  turning 
to  him  with  expression  of  supreme  content. 

In  the  Connecticut  building  is  a  portrait  of  General  Put- 
nam. It  shows  a  full  face,  large,  round  head,  prominent 
grey  eyes,  well  set  nose,  and  a  mouth  showing  great  deter- 
mination. Here  are  also  his  pistols,  which  are  formidable 
looking,  indeed,  being  about  a  foot  in  length,  the  barrels  as 
large  almost  as  those  of  a  musket.  Near  them,  is  the  mus- 
ket with  which  he  killed  the  famous  wolf, — an  ordinary  look- 
ing weapon  with  long  barrel,  and  flint  lock,  and,  like  the 
pistols,  looking  as  if  kept  more  for  use  than  ornament. 

There  is  also  his  powder  horn  with  an  inscription  upon  it 
showing  that  it  was  made  Nov.  10,  1756,  followed  by  this 
poetical  effusion : 

When  bows,  and  weighty  spears,  were  used  in  fight, 
Then  nervous  limbs  Declar'd  a  man  of  might. 
But  now  Gunpowder  scorns  such  strength  to  own 
And  Heroes,  not  by  Limbs,  but  souls,  are  shown. 

What  a  furious  passion  for  rhyming  they  must  have  had 


1 82  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

in  those  times,  when  even  the  powder  horn  of  a  gruff  old 
fighter  like  Putnam,  was  made  the  repository  for  the  inevit- 
able verse.  Besides  this,  the  horn  bears  a  plan  of  the  stations 
from  Albany  to  Lake  George,  with  figures  of  fortifications, 
all  of  this  being  cut  in  a  distinct  manner  in  large  characters. 

Near  this  building  there  stands  an  old«-fashioned  well-curb, 
with  a  long  sweep  swung  on  a  crotch,  and  pole  tied  to  top,  the 
lower  end  of  the  pole  being  fastened  to  an  "old  oaken  bucket" 
such  a  one  as  inspired  Woodsworth  to  write  the  short  poem, 
"The  Old  Oaken  Bucket"  which  has  made  him  famous.  To 
how  many  this  will  bring  back  most  vividly  the  scenes  of 
the  long  ago. 

In  the  Michigan  building  is  a  cotton  wood  log,,  about  ten 
inches  in  diameter,  which  has  been  cut  off  by  beavers.  It  is 
cut  almost  square  off,  and  looks  as  if  done  by  a  small  gouge 
from  all  directions. 

In  the  Wisconsin  building,  there  is  an  oil  portrait  of  Joseph 
Crele,  who  died  at  Portage  City  in  1866,  aged  one  hundred 
andfifty-one  years.  The'pbrtrait  shows  a  face  which  must  have 
been  fine  looking  when  young;  white  hair,  dark  eyes,  that 
have  a  languid  look,  as  if  the  fires  of  life  were  burning  low; 
mouth  sunken  completely  out  of  shape;  brow,  cheeks  and 
neck  a  succession  of  furrowed  wrinkles,  looking  as  if  time  in 
his  flight,  had  passed  by  and  forgotten  him. 

But  even  such  a  very  old  man  has  been  outstripped  in  the 


THE    KANSAS    AND    COLORADO    BUILDING. 


ATTRACTIONS  Df  THE  STATE  BUILDINGS.  185 

Tace  of  life,  for  there  is  also  a  portrait  in  oil  of  Meshoweba, 
an  Indian  squaw,  who  died  several  years  ago  in  Wisconsin, 
and  who  must  have  been  160  years  of  age.  She  had  two  sons 
in  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  was  then  well  advanced  in 
years.  She  followed  our  arrny,  doing  the  cooking  for  a  squad 
of  soldiers,  and  was  present  at  Yorktown  at  the  surrender  of 
Cornwallis.  For  many  years  she  was  carefully  provided  for 
by  the  Indians  of  Wisconsin.  The  picture  shows  her  wrapped 
in  a  white  blanket,  with  head  bare;  an  old,  old  face,  having 
the  Indian  features;  broad  cheek  bones,  straggling,  coarse 
gray  hair,  but  eyes  black  and  clear;  her  face  and  neck  look 
like  leather,  and  as  if  moulded  into  wrinkles;  and  yet,  many 
squaws  are  as  old  looking  as  she.  Of  the  three  millions  liv- 
ing at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  she  was  selected  as  the  sole 
survivor — the  solitary  link  between  the  early  colonial  days 
and  our  generation.  The  brave,  the  beautiful,  and  the  great 
were  all  doomed  to  be  swept  away  by  the  pitiless  tide  of  time, 
and  this  old  squaw  alone,  destined  to  outlive  them  all. 

But  of  all  the  State  buildings,  that  occupied  jointly  by  Kan- 
sas and  Colorado,  deserves  the  highest  praise,  and  enlists  far 
more  attention  than  any  other.  These  enterprising  young 
States  have  an  Exposition  by  themselves,  which  will  repay 
one  for  hours  of  careful  'observation.  On  one  side  is  repre- 
sented by  means  of  painted  oilcloth  a  rocky  ledge  covered  with 
patches  of  vegetation  here  and  there,  down  which  a  little  foam- 


186      BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GBSAT  EXPOSITION. 

ing  cascade  pours  on  the  rocks  below.  On  this  rocky  ledge 
are  fixed  splendid  stuffed  specimens  of  all  the  native  animals 
and  birds  in  the  two  States;  buffaloes,  bears,  antelope,  the 
wolf,  fox,  prairie  dog,  rabbit,  racoon,  opossum,  and  others,  as 
well  as  wild  turkeys,  geese,  ducks,  prairie  hens,  cranes,  owls, 
quails,  snipe,  and  many  other  varieties,  all  fixed  in  a  natural 
position,  and  producing  a  striking  effect,  especially  as  you 
learn  that  all  of  these  were  shot  and  stuffed  by  a  small,  quiet 
looking,  middle  aged  lady,  who  is  with  them,  and  has  deservedly 
earned  all  the  attention  she  receives.  There  are  buffalo 
robes,  on  which  are  pictures  of  different  colors  made  by  the 
squaws, — some  of  squaws  with  papooses.on  horseback, — toma- 
hawks, bows,  arrows,  quivers  and  knives,  and  various  designs, 
all  more  skillfully  done  than  one  would  expect.  There  is  a 
very  extensive  exhibit  of  silver  ores  from  Colorado,  one  piece 
of  which,  weighing  about  a  ton  and  a  half,  and  not  looking 
half  so  rich  as  many  shining  boulders  in  some  old  pasture, 
contains  silver  worth  $736.  Another  specimen  contains 
$1000  worth  of  silver  to  the  ton,  but  to  unpractised  eyes,  it 
looks  no  richer  than  another  sample  which  yields  $200  to  the 
ton.  There  is  a  specimen  of  selected  gold  ore,  which  yields  at 
the  rate  of  $25000  per  ton,  and  it  does  not  look  particularly 
rich  either.  They  have  a  gold  button,  about  one  and  a  half 
inches  in  diameter,  and  perhaps  half  an  inch  thick  in  middle, 
which  is  worth  $60,  and  was  taken  from  one  pound  of  ore. 


THE    NEW    JERSEY    BUILDING. 


ATTRACTIONS  IN  THE  STATE  BUILDINGS. 

A  button  of  silver  containing  about  as  much  as  a  silver  dol- 
lar, was  extracted  from  one  ounce  of  ore.  In  other  specimens, 
gold  as  large  as  peas  is  seen  cropping  out  of  the  rock ;  but 
most  of  the  gold  exists  in  the  form  of  fine  dust,  which  is  ex- 
tracted by  skillful  processes,  and  elaborate  and  powerful 
machinery. 

On  the  side  of  a  smooth  piece  of  rock,  about  two  feet  longT 
a  fern  leaf  is  traced  as  delicately  and  distinctly,  as  if  drawn  in 
India  ink.  There  are  mammoth  bulbs  of  morning  glories, 
about  two  feet  long,  and  one  foot  in  diameter,  and  samples  of 
grains,  which  can  scarcely  be  surpassed,  all  bearing  witness  to 
the  wonderful  fertility  of  the  soil.  Mr.  G.  Hopper,  a  native 
of  the  West,  is  an  individual  well  known,  by  reputation,  in 
public  circles,  but  comparatively  few  have  seen  him.  For  those 
who  are  anxious  to  gratify  their  curiosity,  there  are  several 
corpses,  preserved  in  alcohol.  They  are  about  two  and  a  half 
inches  long,  and  three  quarters  of  an  inch  in  width,  and  are 
as  savage  and  formidable  in  aspect,  as  can  well  be  imagined. 
On  the  wall,  there  hangs  the  coat  of  Kit  Carson,  the  famous 
Indian  scout.  The  outside  is  made  of  dressed  buckskin,  with 
fringe  of  the  same  material,  and  the  body  is  embroidered  in 
certain  places,  with  blue  and  pink  silk,  in  fanciful  designs;  the 
collar  is  of  black  velvet,  plain,  black  buttons;  the  inside  is  of 
strong,  coarse  cloth,  making  a  very  warm,  heavy  garment. 
Those  scouts  and  mountaineers,  although  isolated  from  the 


190  BEN"   BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPt  >SITIOiT. 

world,  do  not  lose  quite  all  their  vanity,  for  the  love  of  orna- 
ment in  dress  is  seen  cropping  out,  even  there. 

Some  enterprising,  and  kind  individual,  anxious  to  serve  the 
next  generation,  is  exhibiting  a  century  clock,  which  he 
claims,  when  once  wound  up,  will  run,  and  keep  good  time, 
till  the  next  Centennial.  The  weight  weighs  600  pounds,  and 
during  the  century,  will  fall  six  feet  and  four  inches.  It  is 
about  eight  feet  high,  and  two  feet  square,  which  is  quite 
small  for  the  amount  of  work  it  has  to  do. 

The  earth  is  full  of  mysteries.  For  instance,  here  is  a  pet- 
rified fish,  looking  very  much  like  a  brook  trout,  which  was 
found  four  hundred  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  earth,  in  a 
shaft  of  a  mine.  How  did  it  come  there?  A  large  mass  of 
metal  which  looks  like  solid  gold,  is  called  "  fool's  gold,1' 
because  it  is  nothing  but  pyrites  of  iron,  and  is  worthless. 
Some  magnificent  specimens  of  agate  are  shown,  which  are 
supposed  to  be  petrifications  of  wood,  and  also,  rock  crystals, 
which  are  very  beautiful.  A  curiosity  is  seen  in  a  piece  of 
solid  silver  quartz  rock,  just  as  it  came  from  the  earth,  which 
seems  to  have  the  masonic  sign,  of  square  and  compass,  upon 
it,  in  several  places.  A  small  bunch  of  faded  flowers  is  shown, 
which  were  plucked  by  one  hand,  while  the  other  gathered  a 
snow  ball.  This  was  on  one  of  the  mountains  in  Colorado, 
near  the  snow  line,  and  illustrates  the  contrasts  and  peculiar- 
ities of  that  wonderful  country.  An  interesting  picture 


THE    PENNSYLVANIA    BUILDING. 


ATTRACTIONS  IN"  THE  STATE  BUILDINGS.  ]  93 

hangs  on  the  wall,  of  mountains,  trees,  foliage,  and  cattle, 
made  entirely  from  a  collection  of  mosses  and  barks.  There 
is  a  fine  stuffed  Rocky  Mountain  sheep,  which  has  strong 
horns,  and  is  as  large  as  a  good  sized  calf,  and  is  well  adapted 
for  climbing  and  leaping.  He  has  hair,  however,  instead  of 
wool,  and  seems  to  belong  to  the  deer  family,  rather  than  to 
that  of  the  s.ieep.  Excellent  specimens  of  coal  are  also 
exhibited,  as  well  as  iron  ore,  and,  of  course,  many  other 
articles  which  have  not  been  mentioned,  but  we  have 
endeavored  to  notice  the  most  remarkable  in  the  collection. 


The  Beautiful  Algerian, 

Many  people  imagine  that  the  houri  of  the  Arabian  nights 
and  the  Oriental  beauties  of  Byron  were  pure  creations  of 
fancy,  and  have  no  counter-type  in  actual  life.  All  such 
should  see  the  Algerian  lady,  in  the  bazaar  for  the  sale  of 
goods  from  Algiers;  and  they  would  have  reason  to  think,  that 
those  characters,  were  not  altogether  creations  of  the  fancy. 
Imagine  a  fair,  white  complexion,  a  beautifully  shaped  head 
eyes  of  lustrous  blackness,  long  dark  eyelashes,  and  eyelids 
that  must  have  been  penciled  in  the  Eastern  manner,  so  strik- 
ing is  the  effect.  A  nose  of  perfect  symmetry,  and  a  mouth 
small,  but  well  shaped,  lips  like  ruby,  and  when  opened 
disclosing  teeth  perfectly  regular,  and  white  as  ivory, — a  chin 
in  perfect  harmony  with  the  face,  and  jet  black  hair  forming 
a  glorious  contrast  with  the  fair  brow,  and  white  neck, — and 
you  may  form  some  conception  of  the  Oriental  type  of  beauty. 
On  her  head  she  wears  a  rich  robe,  which  is  like  the  setting 
to  a  jewel;  and  as  a  part  of  the  usual  costume  of  her  country, 
is  worn  a  richly  embroidered  velvet  jacket.  But  while  her 
beaut}r  is  surpassingly  great,  and  to  our  eyes,  of  a  type  almost 
startling  in  its  strangeness  and  perfection,  yet  there  is  some- 
thing wanting  which  we  see  in  thousands  of  plain  faces,  and  in 
ordinary  characters  in  the  great  world  around  us.  There  is 


THE  BEAUTIFUL  ALGEBIAH.  195 

lacking  that  delicate  and  womanly  kindliness  of  soul,  that 
denotes  a  refined  nature  and  a  noble  heart,  and  which  in  ten 
thousand  happy  homes,  sheds  a  light  more  glorious,  than  lus- 
trous orbs  of  Oriental  lovliness.  Here  is  beauty  that  would 
fill  the  artist  with  rapture,  and  would  remind  him  of  the  classic 
features  of  the  old  Grecian  masters,  and  yet  the  nameless  grace 
and  urbanity  that  distinguishes  the  true  lady  was  lacking. 
She  is  continually  surrounded  by  a  host  of  admirers  with 
whom  she  does  a  flourishing  trade  in  the  vending  of  her  photo- 
graphs, and  the  numerous  knick  knacks  for  sale.  A  boy  about 
fifteen  years  of  age,  seemingly  a  member  of  the  family,  and 
actiug  as  salesman,  has  also  the  same  inheritance  of  personal 
beauty.  His  face  is  a  rich  olive  color,  and  his  eyes  are 
black  as  night,  and  like  flashing  gems.  The  phlegmatic  pro- 
prietor of  the  establishment  is  on  the  contrary,  a  blonde  gen- 
tleman of  the  extremest  type, — fair,  ruddy  complexion,  blue 
eyes  and  light  hair,  and  beard,  and  a  perfect  contrast  to  the 
lady  we  have  described.  He  wears  an  immense  turban, 
a  highly  colored  jacket,  and  loose  trousers,  and  seems  to  be 
wide-awake  in  the  management  of  his  business.  Among  their 
wares  they  have  perfumed  beads,  purporting  to  be  made  from 
berries  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Lebanon;  pipes  of  Eastern 
design  and  profusely  ornamented ;  silk  handkerchiefs  of  exqui- 
site texture  and  design,  and  richly  embroidered  cloths  and 
articles  of  apparel,  and  many  other  articles  of  ornament  very 
attractive  to  the  eye. 


The  Marvels  of  Agricultural  Hall. 


Ceres,  the  protectress  of  agriculture,  was  one  of  the  great- 
est divinities  in  ancient  mythology,  but  it  is  very  doubtful 
whether  ever  before,  she  has  been  honored  by  such  a  tribute 
as  we  see  in  these  vast  acres  covered  with  the  choicest  pro- 
ducts of  earth,  agricultural  machinery,  and  manufactured 
articles  of  domestic  use. 

From  this  imposing  display  of  the  earth's  fruitfulness,  and 
man's  ingenuity,  let  us  gather  a  few  trophies.  The  nations, 
represented  by  separate  departments,  are  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  Canada,  New  Zealand,  South  Australia,  France, 
Germany,  Austria,  Hungary,  Portugal  and  her  colonies, 
Italy,,  Venezuela,  Japan,  Liberia,  Brazil,  Denmark,  Sweden, 
Argentine  Republic,  Spain,  Russia  ;  and  among  the  States  of 
our  own  country,  Iowa,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Oregon,  and  Wash- 
ington Territory,  have  made  fine  exhibits  of  their  agricul- 
tural resources.  It  would  be  tedious  to  enumerate  all  the 
varied  productions  which  each  of  these  countries  have  con- 
tributed, but  some  of  the  most  striking  we  will  notice  as  we 
pass  along. 


THE  MARVELS  OF  AGRICULTURAL  HALL.  199 

In  the  department  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  we  see 
fine  specimens  of  wool,  candy,  straw  bee-hives,  shell  work, 
vases  of  flowers,  mill  machinery,  terra  cotta  work,  large  steam 
engines  on  wheels,  for  farm  work;  also  agricultural  imple- 
ments, and  many  other  articles  covering  a  large  space. 

Canada  has  a  splendid  display  of  modern  farm  machinery, 
horse  rakes,  drills,  threshing  machines,  plows,  fanning  mills, 
reapers,  and  many  others,  and  is  not  far  behind  our  own 
country  in  the  design  and  finish  of  these  implements.  There 
is  also  an  excellent  display  of  the  cereals,  of  great  variety, 
and  finest  quality. 

In  France,  one  of  the  most  noticeable  features,  is  a  large 
assortment  of  balances  and  scales,  for  weighing,  and  they  , 
look  extremely  rude  and  clumsy,  when  compared  with  those 
in  general  use  in  this  country.  There  are  also  large  assort- 
ments of  wines  and  brandies,  and  machinery  for  their 
manufacture. 

Germany,  and  Austria  and  Hungary,  do  not  make  as  fine 
displays  as  might  be  expected  from  the  immense  resources  of 
those  countries.  Both  Germany  and  Austria  have  displayed 
very  conspicuously,  on  towers  built  for  the  purpose,  large 
numbers  of  mowing  scythes,  which  are  from  three  to  five 
inches  wide,  and  are  clumsy  and  burdensome  indeed,  com- 
pared with  those  exhibited  by  American  manufacturers.  They 
have  large  exhibits  of  wines,  cigars,  wool,  and  small  grains. 


200  BEN   BEVERLY  AT  THE  GEE  AT   EXPOSITION. 

Portugal,  and  her  colonies  on  the  African  coast,  have  a  de- 
partment containing  many  articles  of  interest.  Here  is  an 
immense  tusk  of  ivory,  about  six  feet  long,  and  six  inches  in 
diameter;  assortments  of  coffee;  platters  and  dishes  made 
of  wicker  work,  and  fine  collection  of  precious  woods;  a 
rude  loom  about  three  feet  square,  made  and  used  by  native 
Africans,  and  which  will  weave  cloth  about  the  width  and 
quality  of  our  coarse  towels.  Then  there  is  a  whole  museum  of 
weapons  of  warfare,  used  by  the  savage  Africans, — murderous 
looking  spears  with  long  steel  blades,  some  with  three  prongs; 
shields  made  of  wicker  work,  bows,  arrows,  and  clubs,  and  also 
a  large  variety  of  battle-axes,  daggers  and  swords,  which  look 
as  if  they  had  done  murderous  service  for  many  long  years.  A 
wax  figure,  life  size,  so  fierce  in  aspect,  and  life-like  in  ap- 
pearance, as  to  be  almost  startling  at  first  view,  gives  one 
an  excellent  idea  of  the  costume  of  those  African  tribes.  It 
is  very  scant  and  simple,  consisting  of  a  sash  of  white  cloth 
over  one  shoulder,  a  girdle  of  same  around  the  loins,  a  belt 
around  the  waist,  in  which  is  stuck  a  dangerous  looking  dag- 
ger; sandals  on  the  feet,  and  an  immense  red  turban  on  the 
head. 

These  colonies  are  rich  in  choicest  woods,  of  which  there 
are  numerous  samples,  some  of  which  are  susceptible  of  a 
wonderful  polish. 

In  the  Italian  department  we  notice  oranges,  lemons,  maca- 


THE  MARVELS  OF  AGBICULTUKAL  HALL.  201 

roni,  rice,  nuts,  candied  fruits,  ores,  leather,  soap  in  huge 
blocks,  jute,  wines,  and  some  fine  lithographic  stones.  One 
of  the  best  ways  to  ascertain  whether  a  country  is  progress- 
ive is  to  examine  the  style  of  plows  used,  and  here  we  are 
agreeably  disappointed  to  find  good  plows  and  harrows  of 
modern  patterns,  which  is  certainly  a  cheering  sign  of  promise 
for  the  future,  for  if  the  great  interests  of  agriculture  are 
neglected,  there  is  not  much  hope  of  a  permanent  prosperity 

The  little  republic  of  Liberia  exhibits  unhulled  coffee  as 
large  as  hazel  nuts,  flax,  coal,  iron  ores,  dyewoods,  cereals  of 
fine  quality,  and  an  immense  tusk  of  ivory.  A  piece  of  native 
ore  is  shown  which  has  been  forged  without  smelting,  just  as 
it  was  taken  from  the  ground,  and  contains  94  per  cent,  of 
iron.  A  native  African  loom  is  a  curiosity,  showing  how  in 
nearly  all  barbarous  tribes,  some  sort  of  a  loom  seems  to  be 
invented.  This  is  only  about  a  foot  square,  and  weighs  only 
one  pound  and  fourteen  ounces,  and  yet  it  has  woven  cloth  of 
quite  good  quality  with  red  and  dark  stripes,  looking  almost 
as  well  as  some  of  our  coarse  ginghams. 

The  department  representing  Venezuela  is  also  very  inter- 
esting. Here,  too,  is  a  marvelous  array  of  the  most  beautiful 
ornamental  woods,  showing  a  richness  of  variety,  which  is 
astonishing,  and  well  illustrates  the  boundless  natural  re- 
sources of  those  tropical  climes.  Strange  to  say,  there  are 
superb  boquets  of  wax  flowers,  showing  perfectly  the  rich 


202  BE]ST   BEVERLY  AT  THE  GEE  AT   EXPOSITION". 

coloring,  and  the  massive  luxuriance  of  the  floral  sisterhood 
in  that  sunny  land.  There  is  also  beautiful  embroidery  of 
richly  colored  feathers,  which  are  suggestive  of  the  brilliantly 
plumed  songsters,  which  vie  in  lavishness  of  color,  with  the 
flowers  and  leaves  amongst  which  they  dwell. 

Here  is  a  work  of  exquisite  taste  and  wondrous  patience, 
which  interests  us  at  once.  It  is  a  strikingly  natural  portrait 
of  Washington ;  the  angel  of  Liberty  crowning  him  with  a 
wreath;  on  one  side  is  a  bust  of  General  Bolivar,  on  the  other 
of  Lincoln,  both  resting  on  pedestals,  and  we  are  truly 
amazed  when  we  learn  that  all  this,  so  natural,  and  harmonious 
in  coloring,  is  made  of  human  hair.  This  admirable  piece  of 
work  is  set  in  a  rich  gilt  frame,  and  is  not  only  a  specimen 
of  consummate  skill,  but  is  also  a  beautiful  tribute  to  our 
country  and  the  memory  of  the  immortal  Washington. 

It  is  a  matter  of  surprise  that  Russsia  is  so  far  advanced  in 
farm  machinery.  But  here  are  steam-engines  on  trucks,  for 
farm  work,  threshing  machines,  containing  substantially  the 
modern  improvements ;  fanning-mills,  reapers  with  self-raking 
attachments,  and  other  machinery,  finished  in  the  most 
attractive  manner,  and  showing  that  they  are  fully  awake  on 
this  subject.  There  is  also,  a  splendid  display  of  small  grains, 
jute,  and  of  the  different  varieties  of  wood.  There  are  also 
wax  figures,  showing  the  dress  of  the  people,  which  is  merely 
an  immense  fur  sack,  reaching  almost  to  the  feet,  with  hood 


THE  MARVELS  OF  AGRICULTURAL  HALL.  203 

attached,  the  bottom  of  the  robe  and  the  trimmings  being  of 
darker  fur,  making  a  very  comfortable  and  picturesque  cos- 
tume, which  looks  as  if  it  might,  render  a  Russian  winter, 
tolerable.  There  are  shoes  made  of  cloth  about  half  an 
inch  thick  which  looks  as  if  pressed  together,  and  warm 
enough  for  any  climate. 

There  are  also  very  excellent  specimens  of  wool,  some  of 
which  show  a  clip  not  less  than  five  inches  long,  and  of  ex- 
ceeding fineness. 

The  Empire  of  Brazil  has  done  herself  great  credit  in  this 
building,  as  in  others,  by  the  richness  and  variety  of  her  ex- 
hibits. One  of  the  most  noticeable  things,  is  a  palace  of  cot- 
ton, which  is  a  circular  building  of  wood;  covered  with 
masses  of  loose  white  cotton,  the  top  of  the  walls  ornamented 
with  tall  plumes  of  this  material,  giving  to  it  a  very  pleasing 
and  picturesque  aspect.  In  the  inside  is  a  monument  of  cof- 
fees, the  whole  calling  particular  attention  to  two  great  pro- 
ductions of  that  country.  The  Display  of  woods  is  magnifi- 
cent, and  the  wonderful  resources  of  the  famous  Brazilian  for- 
ests are  well  attested  here.  One  piece  of  wood  is  smoothed 
and  highly  polished,  and  the  grain  looks  like  leaves  and  blos- 
soms, so  exquisite  are  its  fantastic  curvings.  To  most  people,  it 
must  be  a  new  revelation  in  the  matter  of  ornamental  wood. 
Here  is  also  india  rubber  as  it  conies  from  the  tree,  jute,  to- 
bacco, cigars,  rope,  leopard  skins,  leather,  and  well  built  plows? 


204  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GBEAT   EXPOSITION. 

which  indicate  an  advanced  system  of  agriculture.  The  dis- 
play of  small  grains  is  also  excellent. 

Holland  has,  amongst  other  things,  a  fine  showing  of  corks, 
jute,  cheese,  beeswax,  bent  wood  and  cables.  There  is  also  a 
model  of  a  Dutch  fishing  galley,  so  wide  as  to  be  almost  like  a 
tub.  It  has  one  mast,  and  illustrates  the  character  of  its 
builders  to  go  slowly,  and  keep  right  side  up.  A  great  curi- 
osity is  a  section  of  a  wooden  fence,  about  six  feet  square, 
which  is  a  part  of  a  hedge  formed  by  a  shrub,  called  "  Mer- 
veilleuse,"  which,  when  planted  about  six  inches  apart  and 
the  saplings  interlaced,  grows  together,  the  branches  joining 
each  other,  and  becoming  knotty  and  gnarly,  thus  making 
an  impenetrable  fence,  looking  like  a  huge  sieve. 

Denmark  displays  fine  specimens  of  small  grains,  butter, 
and  bottled  liquors  and  cordials. 

In  the  Swedish  department  are  plows  of  good  design  and 
workmanship,  a  large  variety  of  small  grains,  cured  fish, 
leather,  and  many  models  of  their  boats  and  vessels,  which 
indicate  a  thorough  knowledge  of  boat  and  ship  building. 

The  Argentine  Republic  shows  to  fine  advantage,  the  re- 
sources of  that  country;  one  of  the  most  surprising  sights, 
is  the  great  variety  of  precious  woods,  adapted  for  the  most 
costly  and  beautiful  ornamental  work.  Then  there  are  ex- 
cellent specimens  of  furs,  wool,  the  small  grains,  raisins,  nuts, 
sugar,  cheese,  hides  and  silks. 


THE  MARVELS  OF  AGRICULTURAL  HALL.  205 

The  chief  display  of  Norway  consists  of  all  kinds  of  dried 
fish,  nets,  and  fishing  tackle,  boats,  and  fishing  smacks. 

In  regard  to  our  own  country,  it  would  require  a  volume  to 
describe  the  machinery  exhibited.  There  are  plows,  which 
almost  belong  to  the  department  of  art,  silver  plated,  their 
wood  work  of  mahogany,  or  rosewood,  polished  as  if  for  a 
parlor,  and  so  graceful  in  design,  that  it  would  seem  sport  to 
turn  a  furrow.  Here  are  mowers  and  reapers,  of  the  same 
exquisite  workmanship,  and  of  every  pattern;  some  with 
long,  curved  arms,  look  like  swan's  necks  and  heads,  which 
grasp  the  bundles  of  grain  like  things  of  life,  and  bind  them 
tightly  with  wire.  To  enumerate  all,  would  be  to  give  a 
catalogue  of  nearly  all  the  best  labor-saving  farm  machinery 
of  the  age.  It  covers  the  floor  by  the  acre,  and  the  count- 
less cogs,  wheels,  pulleys,  sickles,  bars,  reels,  and  other  par- 
aphernalia in  motion,  make  a  pandemonium  of  noise  and 
bluster,  that  would  almost  drive  a  nervous  person  into  hyster- 
ics. 

Some  of  the  States  have  separate  departments,  which  are 
very  creditable,  amongst  which,  is  that  of  Iowa,  which  has 
glass  jars,  about  six  feet  high,  showing  a  sample  of  the  soil 
from  most  of  the  counties  in  that  State,  to  a  depth  of  six 
feet,  and  in  most  of  them,  it  shows  a  rich  loam  to  that  depth. 
There  is,  also,  a  very  fine  collection  of  specimens  of  the 
woods  of  Iowa,  which,  in  variety  and  beauty,  must  create  a 


206  BEN   BEVEELY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

general  surprise,  for  the  State  has  not  been  noted  in  that 
respect.  There  is  a  beautiful  inlaid  table,,  of  exquisite  work- 
manship, made  of  3,983  pieces  of  the  different  woods  of  Iowa? 
which  sets  them  out  to  great  advantage,  and  which  required 
six  months  of  dilligent  labor  to  make.  There  is,  also,  a  very 
fine  display  of  fruit,  .which  must  convince  the  most  skep- 
tical, that  the  western  prairies  are  adapted  to  the  cultivation 
of  the  choicest  varieties  of  apples,  pears,  plums,  quinces, 
grapes,  and  many  other  fruits.  Here  are  apples,  immense  in 
size,  red  and  golden,  which  fairly  make  one's  mouth  water. 
There  are  also,  specimens  of  corn,  and  the  small  grains, 
which  attest,  better  than  advertisements,  the  fertility  of  this 
noble  State. 

Ohio  also  exhibits  small  grains,  corn,  wool,  and  other  pro- 
ducts, while  Michigan  has  chiefly  devoted  her  energies  to 
setting  forth  the  richness  and  extent  of  her  pine  lumber 
interests,  by  showing  splendid  samples  of  her  lumber  and 
logs,  in  boards  and  plank,  some  of  which  are  very  large. 

Oregon  has  a  very  interesting  department,  which  illus- 
trates the  fertility  of  the  soil,  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

The  productiveness  of  the  soil  is  truly  marvelous.  Here 
is  a  clump  of  140  stalks  of  wheat,  by  actual  count,  full 
grown,  and  each  one  having  a  perfect  head  of  wheat,  all  of 
which  grew  from  one  kernel,  and  there  is  another  much  larger 
which  must  have  at  least  250  stalks  perfectly  grown  and  head- 


THE  MARVELS  OF  AGRICULTURAL  HALL.  209 

ed  like  the  other,  making  a  clump  of  stalks  about  six  inches 
in  diameter,  which  grew  also  from  one  grain.  So  that  it  is 
necessary  to  sow  only  about  one  quarter  as  much  seed  as  is 
ordinarily  done  in  the  Middle  or  Western  States.  The 
samples  of  all  kinds  of  grain,  are  very  fine,  as  is  also  their 
wool,  and  different  varieties  of  woods. 

There  is  a  tract  of  country  in  Oregon,  about  thirty  miles 
long,  and  eight  wide,  on  which  manna,  or  honey  dew  falls, 
like  the  dew.  It  coats  the  grass  and  leaves  like  varnish,  and 
is  so  sweet,  that  the  bees  make  honey  from,  it.  There  is  a 
branch  shown  here,  on  which  it  has  fallen,  and  it  looks  like 
the  white  sugar,  or  saccharine  matter  we  see  on  raisins,  and 
seems  to  be  in  sufficient  quantities  to  be  gathered. 

California  is  also  represented  here  by  a  fine  exhibit  of  ores, 
shells,  and  a  collections  of  stuffed  birds,  and  small  animals  of 
that  wonderful  region,  which  would  delight  the  heart  of  a 
naturalist.  What  must  be  the  size  of  a  monster  whose  teeth 
were  seven  inches  long  and  three  inches  broad,  and  yet  that 
is  the  dimension  of  a  mastodon's  tooth  we  notice.  Another 
very  curious  looking  object  is  a  rough  stone  called  a  "totum," 
which  is  carved  like  a  bird,  and  carried  by  the  Indians  of  the 
Pacific  coast,  on  the  prows  of  their  canoes,  probably  to  drive 
off  the  bad  spirits,  or  for  some  other  reason  suggested  by 
their  superstitions.  A  piece  of  petrified  wood,  is  also  a  curi- 
osity,— the  grain  of  the  wood  being  distinctly  preserved,  and 


210       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

yet  like  flint.  Here,  too,  is  the  celebrated  grape  vine  of  Santa 
Barbara,Californa,  of  such  immense  size,  and  so  prolific  in  bear- 
ing. It  is  about  sixteen  inches  in  diameter  at  the  base,  and 
runs  up  about  seven  feet,  when  it  spreads  out  and  is  support- 
ed by  a  frame,  which  is  flat  like  a  ceiling.  The  tradition  of 
the  vine,  has  extended  near  and  far;  and  as  near  as  we  can 
gather  is  as  follows,  and  might  be  called: 


The  Romance  of  a  G-rape-Vine. 


About  seventy  years  ago,  a  Spanish  family  lived  near  one 
of  the  numerous  missions,  which  were  flourishing  at  that 
time,  in  the  country  which  now  constitutes  California,  (but 
which  was  then  under  Spanish  rule,)  who  were  blessed  with 
the  presence  of  a  beautiful  daughter.  She  was  famous  for 
her  charms  and  accomplishments  throughout  all  that  re- 
gion, and  had  no  lack  of  suitors  who  sought  her  hand. 
Amongst  those  who  threw  themselves  at  her  feet,  she  looked 
with  favor  on  one — a  handsome  young  man,  who  captured 
her  heart  by  his  manly  bearing,  and  sterling  qualities,  and 
who  was  fitted  in  every  way  to  be  a  desirable  companion  for  her, 
except  that  he  was  poor.  The  parents  were  ambitious,  and 
wished  to  procure  a  rich  husband  for  her,  and  so  looked  upon 


THE  ROMANCE  OF  A  GRAPE  VINE.  211 

the  young  man  with  coldness  and  repulsion.  He  asked  their 
consent  to  the  hand  of  the  daughter,  was  refused  and  driven 
away,  and  commanded  never  again  to  see  her  face. 

In  order  to  break  the  attachment  between  the  lovers,  the 
parents  decided  they  would  suddenly  remove  to  another  mis- 
sion, one  hundred  miles  away,  trusting  that  time,  distance, 
and  new  associations,  would  soon  cause  the  daughter  to  forget 
her  lover.  She  managed  to  apprise  him  of  this,  and  they  had 
a  clandestine  meeting,  in  which  he  confided  to  her,  that 
friendly  Indians  had  communicated  to  him  the  knowledge  of 
a  gold  mine,  which  he  was  determined  to  find,  and  that  he 
would  return  with  great  riches,  and  thus  remove  the  obstacle, 
to  their  union,  and  so  pledging  mutual  constancy  they 
separated;  but,  before  he  departed,  he  presented  her  with 
a  grape  cutting  for  a  riding  whip,  to  carry  on  the  intended 
journey,  as  a  reminder  of  him.  The  removal  was  soon  made, 
but  the  grape-vine  was  carefully  preserved  by  the  beautiful 
betrothed,  as  a  memento  of  her  absent  lover,  and  in  a  favorite 
spot,  near  the  new  home,  she  planted  it,  and  under  her  watch- 
ful care  it  grew  with  wonderful  vigor.  After  a  time,  the  par- 
ents found  what  they  considered  a  suitable  husband  for  their 
daughter;  he  was  old  and  ugly  to  be  sure,  but  these  slight  ob- 
jections were  overshadowed  by  the  fact  that  he  was  rich — at 
least,  so  thought  the  parents — at  any  rate,  their  eyes  were 
so  feasted,  and  their  minds  were  so  exhilerated  by  the  display 


212  BEif  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GKEAT  EXPOSITION. 

of  the  glittering  gold,  of  their  prospective  son-in-law,  that 
they  were  completely  blinded  to  every  other  consideration — 
moreover  the  rich  suitor  was  thoroughly  infatuated  with  the 
charming  maiden.  She  protested  and  resisted  as  long  as 
possible,  but  at  length  her  stern  and  unrelenting  father  so 
exerted  his  authority,  that  she  was  compelled  to  succumb. 
Under  many  pretexts,  she  succeeded  in  delaying  the  nuptials 
for  two  years,  trusting  that  some  good  fortune  would  inter- 
pose, and  especially  that  her  absent  lover  would  realize  his 
dream's  of  wealth,  and  return  before  the  dreaded  day  that 
would  soon  be  set  for  the  imposing  marriage  ceremony.  At 
length  the  day  was  fixed,  and  the  evening  before,  she  went  to 
her  loved  grape-vine,  crushed  by  unutterable  anguish  and 
despair,  wishing  that  death  would  terminate  her  misery,  but 
while  thus  prostrated  by  grief,  she  heard  a  rustling  of  leaves 
and  light  footsteps,  and  in  an  instant  appeared  the  welcome 
form  of  her  lover,  who  had  returned,  with  all  his  visions  of 
affluence  realized.  With  joy  they  sought  the  sordid  par- 
ents, and  soon  convinced  them  of  his  good  fortune,  and  they 
willingly  acquiesced  in  the  choice  of  their  daughter,  now 
that  their  objection  was  removed.  The  marriage  was  con- 
summated, and  as  the  years  rolled  by,  they  brought  with 
them  all  the  happiness  and  prosperity  that  could  bless  a  large 
and  well  ordered  household.  But  after  many  years,  reverses 
came,  and  their  wealth  vanished,  as  it  ever  may,  and  they 


THE  MARVELS  OF  AGRICULTURAL  HALL.  213 

were  reduced  to  proverty.  The  grape-vine  in  the  meantime, 
have  been  growing  luxuriantly,  and  every  year  becoming  more 
prolific;  until  now,  when  proverty  came,  its  yield  was  so 
great  and  valuable  that  it  supplied  the  simple  wants  of  the 
family,  and  saved  them  from  want  until  the  days  of  prosper- 
ity came  again.  The  couple  whose  lives  had  seen  so  much  of 
romance,  passed  away,  but  the  old  grape-vine  cherished  its  life, 
and  every  year  grew,  and  strengthened,  until  it  reached  its 
present  proportions.  And  with  such  romantic  associations  it 
has  become  the  most  famous  grape-vine  on  the  continent. 


One  of  the  conspicuous  objects  of  interest,  is  a  plow  said  to 
have  been  made  by  Daniel  Webster,  in  1837.  It  resembles  him, 
in  being  built  on  a  large  scale,  for  it  is  thirteen  feet  long, 
having  a  beam  nine  feet  in  length.  It  has  a  wooden  mould 
board,  with  plates  of  iron  nailed  on  it,  and  is  constructed 
with  coulter  and  wheel  in  front,  and  was  evidently  made  to 
plow  new  land  full  of  roots  and  stumps.  It  must  have  been 
a  favorite  with  him,  for  this  is  what  he  said  of  it:  "When  I 
have  hold  of  the  handles  of  my  big  plow,  with  four  yoke  of 
oxen  to  pull  it  through,  and  hear  the  roots  crack,  and  see 
the  stumps  go  under  the  furrow  out  of  sight,  and  observe 
the  clear,  mellowed  surface  of  the  plowed  land,  I  feel  more 
enthusiasm  over  my  achievement,  than  comes  over  my  en- 
counters of  public  life  in  Washington."  Hear  this,  ye 
thousands  who  are  holding  the  plow  handles  in  disgust,  and 


214       BEU  BBVEBLY  AT  THE  GBEAT  EXPOSITION. 

are  longing  to  leave  them  for  the  whirl  and  excitement  of 
city  life,  the  dangerous  experiment  of  commercial  business, 
or  the  wranglings  and  disappointments  of  a  political  career — 
hear  this,  from  the  most  magnificent  intellect,  and  grandest 
orator  of  this  continent,  before  whom  senates  were  moved 
at  the  majesty  of  his  genius,  and  admiring  thousands  ready 
to  do  him  homage.  If  a  man  of  such  powers,  with  such  suc- 
cesses, found  the  rewards  so  barren,  what  can  you  expect  with 
your  limited  powers  and  meagre  opportunities?  That  old 
plow  will  preach  many  a  sermon,  as  it  stands  there,  rusty  and 
weather  beaten — its  occupation  forever  gone,  except  to  re- 
main as  an  honored  tribute  to  the  nobility  of  well-directed 
labor. 


Our  Schools  and  Some  Others 


Most  of  the  States  have  provided  educational  departments 
in  the  main  building,  which  are  together  in  a  row,  one  open- 
ing through  to  the  other.  These  are  filled  with  libraries, 
maps,  charts,  extensive  collections  of  apparatus,  text-books, 
cases  of  specimens  in  mineralogy  and  natural  history;  many 
having  valuable  cabinets  from  college  collections.  Tables  are 
also  provided,  on  which  are  the  examination  papers  of  the 
schools  in  each  State,  particularly  of  the  larger  towns  and 
cities,  and  often  of  small  but  enterprising  villages,  which  pa- 
pers are  finely  bound  together  in  handsome  volumes,  inviting 
the  visitor  to  examine  their  contents.  There  are  often  bound 
collections  of  photographic  views  of  the  school-buildings,  so 
that  by  a  careful  examination  of  all  these,  one  may 
determine  the  comparative  rank  of  each  State  in  this  di- 
rection. These  departments  are,  generally,  exceedingly  tastily 
furnished,  and  provided  with  large  books  for  the  names  of 
teachers  and  visitors  from  the  respective  States,  in  which 
they  are  expected  to  register.  As  we  pass  through  them, 
now  looking  at  the  reports  of  a  high  school,  then  perhaps,  a 


216       BEN"  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

ladies'  seminary,  then  at  a  common  school,  and  see  the  often 
fine  penmanship,  the  admirable  drawings,  and  the  intelligent 
and  appropriate  answers  to  the  questions  presented,  we  can 
not  but  feel  a  just  pride  in  our  glorious  system  of  free  educa- 
tion. 

The  State  of  Pennsylvania  has  a  large  octagon  building, 
all  by  herself,  which  is  full  of  interesting  articles.  There  are 
large  collections  of  brooms,  mats,  brushes,  cushions,  clothing, 
and  many  other  articles,  made  by  the  blind;  beautiful  pencil 
and  crayon  drawings,  specimens  of  penmanship,extensive  libra- 
ries, the  most  approved  school  furniture,  a  section  representing 
an  old  school-house,  with  pegs  on  wall,  old  box  stove,  rude  oak, 
desks,  and  the  indispensable  strap  hanging  up,  which  was  in- 
dispensable to  the  old  fashioned  pedagogue. 

Sweden  has  sent  over  a  full-sized  building,  the  same  as 
those  adopted  by  her  for  her  public  schools,  and  every  part 
was  brought  here,  ready  to  be  put  together  on  the  grounds. 
It  is  made  of  pine,  something  like  a  Swiss  chalet,  with  very 
wide  and  overhanging  eaves;  the  sides  of  grooved  squared  tim- 
ber laid  one  on  another,  and  the  whole  building  constructed, 
as  the  gentleman  in  charge  informs  us,  without  any  nails  or 
spikes.  Inside  the  walls  are  wainscotted,  and  the  ceiling 
made  of  matched  boards,  all  of  which  are  oiled.  There  are 
double  front  doors  which  are  arched,  made  out  of  strong 
plank,  with  heavy  iron  hinges.  We  enter  a  hall,  on  the  left 


OUK  SCHOOLS  AND  SOME  OTHERS.  217 

of  which,  is  the  main  room,  with  a  neat  teacher's  room  off  at 
one  side,  supplied  with  a  compact  teacher's  library;  while  to 
the  right  of  the  hall,  is  a  room  for  cabinets,  and  for  recitations. 
The  building  is  intended  for  about  one  hundred  pupils,  with 
two  or  three  teachers.  The  main  building  is  about  twenty 
feet  wide  and  fifty  in  length,  in  the  front  on  a  platform  is  a 
neat  teacher's  desk,  and  behind  it,  is  a  map  rack;  on  one  side 
is  a  cabinet  in  mineralogy  and  entomology,  on  the  other  sides 
are  maps,  globes,  philosophic  and  astronomical  apparatus.  On 
the  walls  are  charts  illustrating  natural  history,  geology,  and 
physical  geography,  and  various  maps.  There  is  a  curious 
map  made  on  a  sort  of  black  board,  with  wooden  pegs  stuck 
in  holes  to  mark  the  cities  and  towns,  so  that  when  the  pupil 
is  asked  to  point  out  a  city,  he  sticks  the  peg  in  the  hole 
which  marks  the  place.  The  seats  and  desks  are  single,  and 
are  similar  to  the  most  approved  patterns  in  our  schools,  and 
are  made  of  light  wood  oiled  and  varnished.  The  desk  is 
provided  with  inkstand  in  front,  a  little  frame  to  lean  the 
open  books  against,  and  a  rack  for  the  slate.  The  top  of  the 
desk  raises  up,  and  underneath  is  a  place  for  books.  There  is 
a  frame  provided  for  the  feet  to  rest  upon,  and  everything 
seems  to  have  been  done  for  convenience  and  comfort.  On 
one  side  of  the  room  is  a  singular  sheet -iron  stove 
which  is  enamelled  with  a  white  surface,  is  about  three 
feet  wide  and  two  feet  deep,  and  extends  from  the  floor 


218  BEN   BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

about  ten  feet  high,  the  top  ornamented  with  a  neat  cornice, 
and  the  whole  having  a  pleasing  appearance.  The  walls  are 
hung  with  numerous  colored  charts;  illustrating  all  depart- 
ments of  natural  history,  and  there  are  several  cases  of  stuffed 
birds,  fishes  and  dried  mosses.  The  external  appearance  of 
the  building  is  decidedly  picturesque  and  attractive. 

Norway  also  occupies  a  space  with  the  furniture  of  a  mod- 
ern school-room,  and  it  certainly  indicates  the  most  advanced 
ideas  in  educational  matters.  The  seats  and  desks  are  of 
modern  style,  teacher's  desk,  and  map  rack  in  front,  with 
maps  and  globe, — the  whole  seeming  to  be  much  the  same  as 
the  best  school-furniture  of  our  own  land. 

Belgium  has  sent  a  model  also  of  a  school-building,  such 
as  is  adopted  by  the  government  for  public  schools.  It  is 
built  of  wood,  and  the  inside  is  neatly  constructed  with 
colored  sections,  so  as  to  afford  a  more  pleasing  variety  to  the 
eye  than  a  plain  wall.  The  seats  and  desks  are  of  wood,  and 
made  for  two  pupils,  and  are  comfortable  and  substantial.  In 
the  front  of  the  room  is  the  teacher's  desk,  and  a  map  rack. 
There  is  a  striking  similarity  between  the  furniture  and  ap- 
pointments of  all  these  school-buildings,  showing  that  the 
interest  in  education  is  becoming  more  and  more  general, 
and  that  an  improvement  adopted  in  one  country  is  soon 
caught  up  by  others,  and  readily  adopted. 


The  Turkish  Cafe. 


We  have  all  read  of  the  Turkish  cafe,  where  the  luxury 
loving  Turks  smoke  long  pipes,  and  drink  the  purest  Mo- 
cha. This  fanciful  looking  structure,  built  in  the  form  of  an 
octagon,  with  such  a  queer  roof  is  one,  and  supposed  to  be 
built  after  the  genuine  Turkish  fashion;  suppose  we  visit  it. 
In  the  centre  of  the  room  are  tables  and  chairs;  around  the 
outside  are  luxurious  cushioned  sofas,  which-  have  fancifully 
figured  coverings,  and  have  a  decidedly  hospitable  aspect. 
The  curtains  are  of  highly  colored,  heavy  material,  and  give 
to  the  room  a  sort  of  Oriental  air.  Behind  the  counter,  on 
one  side,  sits  a  Turkish  woman,  acting  as  cashier  of  the 
establishment,  wearing  a  gayly  embroidered  velvet  garment 
— her  magnificent  black  hair,  dressed  in  our  modern  style. 
She  has  a  splendid  figure,  and  a  sensitive,  refined  face,  as 
white  as  many  brunettes  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race.  We 
take  a  seat  on  the  sofa,  and  a  stalwart  young  Turk,  dressed 
in  a  gay,  red  jacket,  immense  trousers,  and  turban,  ap- 
proaches to  take  our  order.  We  glance  at  his  handsome  face, 
black  mustache,  broad  shoulders,  and  vigorous  frame,  and  in- 
stantly decide  that  the  Turks  are  not  more  effeminate  than 


220  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  OEEAT   EXPOSITION, 

some  other  people;  and  then  order  coffee.  Our  host  repeats 
the  order  to  the  presiding  genius  of  the  back  room,  with  a 
stentorian  voice,  loud  enough  to  awaken  the  seven  sleepers; 
and  in  a  moment,  brings  a  little  cup  about  the  size  of  an  egg 
cup,  placed  in  a  metal  holder.  In  a  few  moments  the  smok- 
ing mocha  appears  in  a  small  brass  ladle,  which  holds  about 
three  tablespoons  full  of  coffee.  It  is  already  sweetened,  and 
so  we  proceed  to  taste  the  beverage.  We  find  it  to  be  thick, 
like  cream,  the  grounds  as  fine  as  flour,  the  flavor  delicious, 
and  we  sip  the  rich  amber,  which  acts  on  the  system  at  once 
as  a  tonic,  and  drives  away  fatigue.  There  is  about  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  grounds  in  the  bottom,  which  the  Turks  take 
with  the  coffee,  but  which  we  leave  in  the  cup.  Near  us, 
groups  are  smoking  the  famous  long  Turkish  pipes,  with 
stems  about  six  feet  long,  and  seem  determined  to  enjoy  solid 
comfort  from  the  experiment.  Customers  come  in  rapidly, 
the  dissonant,  thundering  orders  are  given  at  short  intervals; 
parties  and  groups  are  continually  looking  in,  and  passing 
through,  to  see  the  novel  spectacle,  and.  the  lady  at  the  coun- 
ter, is  a  continual  target  for  numberless  glances  from  bright 
eyes ;  but  the  Turks  are  not  to  be  abashed  by  smiles  or 
laughter,  but  mind  their  business,  well  contented,  so  long  as 
they  can  do  a  flourishing  trade.  I  cannot  see  but  that  the 
Oriental  mind  is  as  keenly  alive  to  the  pleasure  of  gathering 
dollars,  as  the  most  acquisitive  of  any  other  race. 


Horticultural  Hall. 


This  building  is  charmingly  situated,  quite  large,  and  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  on  the  grounds.  At  a  little  distance,  a 
guano  company,  to  show  the  fertilizing  properties  of  their 
preparation,  have  handsomely  decorated  a  large  expanse  of 
the  lawn,  by  magnificent  collections  of  tropical  plants, 
which  seem  to  grow  in  all  the  vigor  and  luxuriance  of 
their  native  climes.  If  we  ascend  the  gallery  of  the  building, 
we  shall  see  these  with  all  their  alternations  of  shades,  and 
also  the  perfectly  kept  flower  beds  which  are  fairly  radiant 
with  bright  colors,  and  extend  in  pleasing  variety,  one  after  an- 
other in  the  distance.  If  we  look  within  the  building,  we  see  a 
succession  of  pretty  arches,  extending  dowii  the  sides,  which 
are  made  of  red,  white  and  black,  brick-laid  alternately,  and 
gaily  painted  designs  above,  which  give  it  a  tasty  and  pleas- 
ing appearance.  Beneath,  we  see  the  luxuriant  masses  of 
tropical  vegetation,  with  their  wonderful  depth  of  coloring, 
the  beautiful  fountains,  and  the  glittering  chandeliers,  and  we 
are  charmed  with  the  beauties  of  the  scene  before  us.  Many 


224  BEN  BEVEBLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

of  the  plants  and  flowers  are  of  great  size,  and  rare  varieties, 
and  would  well  repay  a  lover  of  Flora,  with  a  taste  for  botany, 
to  spend  much  time  in  their  study.  But  as  an  exhibition, 
this  department  does  not  compare  in  variety  and  extent, 
with  many  other  departments  of  the  Exposition;  and  so, 
with  this  brief  glance  we  will  pass  on. 


The  Castellan!  Collection  of  Ancient 
Curiosities, 


Signer  Castellan!  is  an  Italian  gentleman  of  great  wealth, 
who  has  devoted  himself'to  the  study  of  archasological  pur- 
suits and  spent  a  liberal  share  of  his  fortune  in  obtaining 
this  collection  of  valuable  and  interesting  articles,  which  give 
us  a  glimpse  of  the  people  and  customs  that  were  in  exist- 
ence thousands  of  years  ago.  We  are  told  on  good  author- 
ity, that  this  collection  is  valued  at  $400,000,  and  surely  it 
must  have  taken  years  of  patient  labor,  animated  by  a  quench- 
less enthusiasm,  and  assisted  by  an  almost  exhaustless  purse, 
to  have  brought  together  all  of  those  varied  treasures. 
Those  who  think  that  we  live  in  an  age  of  greater 
artistic  excellence  than  any  which  have  preceded  it,  should 
withhold  their  judgment  until  they  see  these  beautiful  pieces 
of  statuary,  many  of  which  are,  and  will  be,  models  of  perfec- 
tion in  art.  Here  for  instance,  is  a  bust  of  an  unknown 
Roman  lady,  which  is  dark  and  stained  by  age  and  exposure, 
but  how  the  perfect  Roman  profile  and  the  delicate,  regular 


226      BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

features  are  brought  out,  in  all  their  beauty.  An  original 
bust  of  Sappho,  the  celebrated  Grecian  poetess,  shows  a  fine, 
strong  face,  large  eyes  and  aquiline  nose,  well  formed  mouth, 
and  flowing  hair  bound  back  in  a  graceful  coil.  Here  is  a 
statue  of  Perseus,  supposed  to  be  the  work  of  Phidias,  the 
greatest  of  Greek  sculptors.  It  has  been  sadly  marred  by 
some  vandal  hands,  for  the  nose  is  broken  off,  and  it  is 
stained  in  many  places,  but  still  shows  traces  of  its  former 
beauty.  A  bust  of  the  Emperor  Augustus,  who  is  said  to  have 
found  Rome  in  brick  and  left  it  in  marble,  represents  a  mag- 
nificent head  of  a  beardless  young  man,  very  much  unlike 
what  we  would  expect  from  the  selfish  and  crafty  character 
described  in  history.  It  shows  a  large  brain,  a  refined  and  ex- 
pressive face,  the  mouth  in  particular,  indicative  of  a  delicate 
and  sensitive  nature. 

Here  are  statues  of  Cupid  and  Psyche,  of  the  school  of 
Praxiteles,  another  of  the  great  Grecian  sculptors.  They  are 
heads  of  the  finest  mould,  the  faces  being  of  the  most  perfect 
Grecian  type  of  beauty.  There  is  a  head  of  Alexander  the 
Great,  showing  his  head  leaning  sideways,  as  history  informs 
us  that  it  did.  This  is  also  badly  disfigured — the  nose  being 
broken  off.  It  shows  a  strong,  full  face  with  regular  features, 
expressive  of  sternness  and  determination. 

Here  is  the  head  of  the  Apollo,  the  Greek  god  of  song  and 
beauty.  The  nose  of  this  is  also  broken,  and  yet  sufficient  is 


CASTELLAN!  COLLECTION"  OF  ANCIENT  CURIOSITIES.         227 

left  of  the  perfect  features — the  large  eyes,  the  well  formed 
mouth,  the  beardless  face,  and  the  luxuriant  hair  thrown 
back,  to  reveal  the  glorious  symmetry  of  this  noble  work. 

We  see  a  full  length  statue  of  "  Bacchus,"  the  god  of  wine, 
amongst  the  Grecian  divinities.  It  represents  a  fine  regular 
face,  very  long  hair  and  beard,  and  a  flowing  robe  thrown  over 
one  shoulder,  and  hanging  gracefully  to  the  feet.  This  piece 
of  statuary  was  found  near  Naples  in  1875.  Next,  we  notice 
the  bust  of  Euripides,  the  celebrated  tragic  poet.  The  face  is 
not  particularly  remarkable  in  expression — having  a  retreat- 
ing forehead,  overhanging  eyebrows,  sunken  eyes,  a  large 
nose, and  aheavy  beard  and  mustache.  Here,  also,  is  the  head 
of  the  Emperor  Tiberius,  which  was  found  in  Naples  in  1437. 
The  features  are  strongly  Roman, — a  large  round  head,  Ro- 
man nose,  thin  lips,  and  protruding  chin,  the  face  denoting  a 
curious  compound  of  intellect,  decision  and  sensuality. 

There  is  a  statue  of  a  Roman  matron, — a  beautiful  face, 
with  regular  features,  a  smiling  expression,  and  her  beauty 
adorned  by  a  loose  mantle  of  rich  pattern. 

One  of.  the  most  remarkable  pieces  of  statuary  is  that  of 
The  Spinario,  which  represents  a  naked  boy  seated  on  a  rock, 
and  taking  a  splint  from  his  foot.  The  position  of  the  body, 
the  natural  appearance  of  the  flesh  and  muscles,  the  expres- 
sion of  the  face, — all  are  wonderful,  and  make  this  one  of  the 
choicest  masterpieces  of  art  of  all  the  ages. 


228      BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION". 

Here  are  a  collection  of  bronze  articles  of  the  sixth  century, 
which  were  found  in  tombs  near  Rome.  There  are  balances, 
with  scale,  and  a  beautiful  female  head  as  a  weight, — toilet 
caskets  about  the  size  of  a  large  ladies  work-box,  of  greenish 
color,  covered  with  beautiful  chasings, — scenes  from  Roman 
mythology,  warriors  with  plumed  helmets,  and  armed  with 
short  swords  and  shields, — imaginary  winged  figures,  stately 
matrons,  war  horses,  and  many  other  fanciful  designs.  We 
can  inspect  here,  a  Roman  lady's  toilet  set, — of  course  it  ap- 
pears at  a  disadvantage  as  it  has  not  been  used  for  about 
twelve  hundred  years,  and  since  then  we  might  suppose  the 
fashions  had  changed,  but  yet,  you  may  see  a  rouge  pot  with 
the  rouge  still  in  it,  showing  that  this  art  has  survived  em- 
pires, dynasties  and  civilizations; — you  may  see  also  combs, 
tweezers,  hand  mirrors,  much  the  shape  of  those  used  to-day, 
but  of  highly  polished  metal  instead  of  glass; — buttons,  a 
sponge,  and  a  great  many  other  articles  for  toilet  uses,  the 
purpose  of  which  it  is  difficult  to  guess.  There  is  also  a 
specimen  of  a  small  cup  with  a  cherub  carved  upon  it,  of 
ivory  carving,  which  is  very  ingeniously  executed. 

Here  is  a  collection  of  ornaments  which  belonged  to  the 
early  Christians,  who  were  compelled  to  take  refuge  in  the 
catacombs  of  Rome,  to  escape  the  terrible  persecutions  of  the 
infuriated  heathen  rulers,  and  these  articles  were  found  in 
those  dreary  recesses.  They  must  have  had  many  supersti- 


OASTELLANI  COLLECTION  OF  ANCIENT  CTJBIOSITEES.         229 

tions,  for  here  are  many  charms  and  amulets,  of  various  pat- 
terns; also,  brass  rings,  of  many  designs,  ornaments,  rude 
glass  and  copper  medals,  with  inscriptions.  There  are,  also, 
coins  from  a  very  remote  time,  some  that  are  merely  pieces 
of  metal,  used  before  the  art  of  engraving  was  applied  to 
money;  others  of  brass  and  iron,  with  the  portrait  of  the 
monarch  on  them,  in  whose  reign  they  were  made.  Here  is 
a  wonderful  collection  of  finger  rings,  from  the  earliest  period 
of  Tyre,  to  the  sixteenth  century.  Some  are  of  gold,  and  are 
in  the  shape  of  a  serpent,  coiled  around  the  finger.  There 
are  immense  ones,  of  gold  or  brass,  about  two  inches  long, 
and  very  large  precious  stones  in  the  back,  and  with  inscrip- 
tions inside  and  out.  A  large  one,  made  of  stone,  has  a  group 
of  statuary  on  four  sides.  There  are  necklaces,  large  ear- 
rings, and  other  articles  of  personal  adornment,  made  of 
brass,  in  the  bronze  age,  which  are  quite  rude  in  appearance; 
and  ornaments  in  amber,  made  at  about  the  same  period; 
amongst  them,  rude  statuary,  and  sketches  of  human  faces. 
Here  are  ornaments  of  glass  and  silver,  set  in  gold,  which 
go  back  to  the  time  of  the  Phoanician  kings,  and  which  were 
taken  from  the  cemeteries  of  Etruria.  Also,  a  very  old 
Egyptian  image  in  ivory,  and  a  necklace  with  pieces  of  glass 
beaded  upon  it.  The  glass  is  very  opaque,  and  nothing  like 
the  clear,  transparent  crystal,  of  to-day.  There  are,  also 
gold  ornaments  taken  from  the  Etrurian  cemeteries,  which. 


230      BEN  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GEEAT  EXPOSITION". 

were  made  seven  hundred  years  before  Christ;  one  of  an  image 
of  a  lion  in  gold,  another  a  carving  in  ivory,  and  a  plate 
which  looks  like  heavy  gold  leaf,  and,  apparently,  had  designs 
pressed  upon  it,  by  being  stamped  in  moulds. 

.  Here  is  a  collection  of  Egyptian  ornaments,  which  were 
made  away  back  in  the  reign  of  the  Macedonian  kings.  They 
consist  of  rings,  necklaces,  ear-rings,  bracelets  and  a  large 
brooch;  showing  that  the  articles  of  female  adornment  were 
much  the  same  then  as  now. 

A  collection  of  Greek  ornaments  is  shown,  which  were 
made  in  the  days  of  Demosthenes,  Plato,  and  Aristotle.  We 
notice  colored  porcelain,  jars,  vases, — one  of  transparent  glass, 
— large  gold  ear-rings,  with  small  ivory  birds  and  beasts  at- 
tached, and  tiny  carved  human  figures,  about  half  an  inch 
long,  and  yet  very  perfect.  But  one  of  the  most  wonderful 
collections,  is  that  of  a  case  of  cameos  cut  in  almost  every 
kind  of  precious  stones, — amethysts,  sards,  emeralds,  garnets, 
and  others,  which  go  back  to  the  days  of  Nineveh  and  Per- 
sepolis,  and  show  the  progress  of  cameo  cutting,  from  those 
remote  periods,  to  modern  times.  Here  are  the  lineaments  of 
Egyptian  princes,  and  Roman  Emperors, — others  from  °ho3- 
nicia,  Etruria  and  Greece,  with  the  busts  of  reigning  monarchs, 
— mythological  deities,  master-pieces  of  classic  art  cut  upon 
them  in  the  most  exquisite  manner.  Here  is  one  for  instance, 
less  than  half  an  inch  square,  on  which  is  cut  the  figure  of  a 


CA8TELLAN1  COLLECTION  OF  ANCIENT  CURIOSITIES.        231 

bard,  with  flowing  hair,  playing  on  his  harp;  every  part 
brought  out  in  the  most  spirited  manner,  and  executed  with 
consummate  skill.  There  are  probably  about  one  hundred  of 
these  gems  and  cameos,  in  this  collection;  and  they  consti- 
tute one  of  the  most  interesting  art  studies  that  can  be  found. 
Here  we  can  see  for  ourselves,  the  work  of  the  cunning  arti- 
ficers of  Egypt  at  a  very  remote  period,  of  Nineveh,  and 
Phoenicia,  of  Greece  and  Rome.  What  must  have  been  the 
civilizations,  which  could  have  produced  such  perfect  models, 
such  glorious  conceptions,  and  such  perfection  of  art. 
We  notice  also  a  collection  of  ornaments  worn  in  the  time  of 
Charlemagne  in  the  eight  and  ninth  centuries,  consisting  of 
a  cross,  a  brass  necklace,  brooch,  ear-rings,  rings  and  pins, 
which  look  rough  and  coarse  to  our  eyes,  but  which  are  quite 
elaborately  ornamented.  There  are  also  some  military  orna- 
ments, which  were  worn  by  the  Crusaders,  consisting  of  sev- 
eral buckles,  a  colored  plate  for  a  belt,  with  a  design  of  four 
shields,  and  another  of  four  dragons.  Specimens  of  porcelain 
made  by  the  Arabs  in  Sicily,  from  the  twelfth  to  the  sixteenth 
centuries,  and  colored  with  fantastic  blue  and  drab  figures,  are 
very  interesting  and  unique;  as  also  are  several  immense 
volumes  of  illuminated  missals  on  vellum  about  two  feet 
square,  which  were  made  by  monks  in  Italian  abbeys  in  the 
fifteenth  century.  They  are  wonderfully  beautiful  with  their 
rich  gilt,  and  exquisite  colored  illuminations  and  pictures. 


232      BEN  BEVEELT  AT  THE  QEEAT  EXPOSITION- 

You  have  heard  of  the  lost  art  in  glazing  porcelain,  by  a 
process  known  in  the  middle  ages, — here  is  a  case  filled  with 
articles  made  by  that  unknown  method, — and  as  the  setting 
sun  throws  a  flood  of  light  upon  it,  it  becomes  radiant  with 
a  molten  glory  of  purple  and  gold,  as  if  the  expiring  orb  of 
day  would  reveal  to  our  eyes,  for  a  few  fleeting  moments,  the 
departed  glory  of  the  illustrious  past. 


Pre-historio  Races  and  Relics. 


There  is  abundant  material  here  to  engage  the  attention 
of  archaeologists  for  weeks.  Models  iii  clay  are  to  be 
seen  in  the  Government  Building,  of  the  houses  of 
the  "  cave  dwellers,"  found  in  Arizona,  which  are  supposed 
to  have  been  deserted  more  than  five  hundred  years,  and  to 
have  been  inhabited  by  a  race  of  the  Aztec  tribe,  now  extinct. 
They  were  made  of  high  walls  of  solid  stone  masonry,  and 
were  built  by  the  side  of  cliffs,  or  ledges  of  rock,  the  wall  of 
rock  forming  one  side,  and  were  entered  through  square  win- 
dows, or  openings,  which  were  high  above  the  ground,  and 
were  reached  by  ladders,  which  they  could  draw  in  after  them. 
From  these  models,we  should  judge  these  walls  to  be  from  fifty 
to  seventy  feet  in  height.  A  smaller  collection  of  relics  is  to 
be  seen,  which  were  found  in  the  vicinity  of  these  caves. 
They  consist  wholly  of  earthenware,  which  is  coarse  in 
character,  some  black  and  white  and  roughly  glazed.  We 
notice  a  dipper,  bowls,  a  water  jar,  and  fragments  of  other  pot- 
tery. One  pitcher,  about  six  inches  in  height,  is  glazed  and 
colored  blue  and  black.  There  is  also  a  model  of  the  ruins  of 


234:       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

an  ancient  tower,  or  circular  building,  found  in  southwestern 
Colorado.  It  was  built  of  brick,  with  an  inner  and  an  outer 
circle  of  heavy  wall,  and  the  space  between,  divided  into  reg- 
ular compartments.  It  seems  to  have  been  built  in  a  good 
workman-like  manner,  and  would  indicate  that  the  builders 
were  a  people  of  a  high  degree  of  intelligence. 

In  an  annex  of  the  main  building,  are  exhibited  many  col- 
lections and  relics  of  great  value.  Amongst  them  is  said 
to  be  the  largest  specimen  of  copper  in  the  world,  an  im- 
mense mass  weighing  5720  Ibs.,  which  was  found  in  Isle 
Royal,  Lake  Superior,  in  1875,  in  an  old  mine  pit  of  the  stone 
age,  about  sixteen  feet  deep.  It  shows  the  marks  of  the  stone 
hammers  of  that  age,  and  is  of  a  greenish  color;  it  has  a  rough 
surface  and  is  in  the  shape  of  a  heart  with  the  bottom  round. 

From  a  mound  near  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  were  taken  an  in- 
teresting collection  of  copper  implements,  which  are  here  ex- 
hibited, amongst  which,  is  a  needle  about  two  inches  long, 
an  awl  and  a  file,  a  spade  about  seven  inches  long  and  three 
inches  wide,  made,  for  a  handle;  knives,  one  of  whose  blades 
is  nine  inches  long,  another  six  inches,  an  axe  of  good  shape, 
but  no  eye  in  it,  and  apparently  made  to  be  fastened  to  the 
handle  by  thongs  or  wire. 

In  another  Michigan  collection  of  relics  from  the  stone 
age,  are  arrows  of  black  and  white  flints,  queer  red  and  black 
pipes,  stone  hammers,  pestles  of  many  sizes,  a  very  curious 


FEE-HISTORIC  RACES  AND  RELICS.  235 

etching  marked  and  painted  on  stone,  representing  a  naked 
figure  bound  to  a  tree  as  if  to  be  burned,  while  near  by  two 
Indians,  with  high  head  dresses  of  feathers,  are  struggling  to- 
gether as  if  in  deadly  conflict.  At  the  right  are  seen  two 
other  trees,  and  a  black  canoe,  apparently  on  the  ground. 
The  ground  is  colored  green,  and  some  faint  coloring  is  seen 
in  other  parts  of  the  picture,  but  it  is  very  dim.  The  figures 
are  quite  well  drawn,  and  their  positions  are  natural. 

In  a  collection  from  Ohio,  is  seen  a  curious  looking  object 
marked  a  "  copper  sandal,"  which  is  shaped  as  if  to  fit  the 
sole  of  the  foot, — also  pots,  bottles,  drinking  vessels,  dishes, 
jars,  all  of  coarse  earthenware, — stone  hammers,  arrows,  idols, 
round  stone  balls,  and  a  very  valuable  collection  of  copper 
articles,  amongst  which  are  arrows,  hatchets,  a  dagger  with 
handle,  a  chisel,  a  large  axe,  and  a  plate  of  copper  about  four 
inches  square.  Perhaps  the  most  curious  is  a  piece  of  carved 
stone  called  the  "Cincinnati  tablet,"  which  was  found  in  a  large 
mound  in  that  city.  The  mound  was  about  twenty  feet  high, 
and  seventy-five  feet  wide  at  the  base.  The  tablet  is  about 
six  inches  wide,  four  inches  high,  and  half  an  inch  thick. 
There  is  a  border  on  the  outside,  and  within  it  characters  are 
graven  as  regular  as  those  in  a  Chinese  book,  and,  at  a  casual 
glance  look  very  much  the  same.  In  this  collection  there 
is  also,  a  white  stone  tomahawk  with  an  eye  for  a  handle;  a 
pebble  with  the  head  of  a  deer  skillfully  cut  upon  it,— a  lizard 


236       BEN"  BEVERLY  AT  THE  QEEAT  EXPOSITION. 

cut  in  medallion  on  a  piece  of  black  stone,  and  a  white  pipe 
with  an  Indian  figure  cut  upon  it. 

Here  is  a  curious  pipe,  with  a  human  face  carved  on  the 
bowl,  a  shank  about  five  inches  long,  on  which  are  three 
naked  figures  kneeling  as  in  adoration, — the  first  more  pros- 
trate than  the  others,  and  all  symmetrically  shaped,  and  the 
position  natural, — also  there  is  seen  a  figure-head  of  a  man 
attached  to  the  rude  body  of  a  beast,  which  was  found  eleven 
feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  whilst  digging  a  well  in 
Ohio. 

The  largest  collection  in  the  world  of  copper  materials  from 
the  pre-historic  races,  is  from  Wisconsin;  and  is  truly  aston- 
ishing. Here  we  see  what  is  apparently  a  set  of  surgical  in- 
struments,— small  knives,  one  and  two  inches  in  length,  axes 
of  different  sizes,  large  knives  with  curved  blades,  and  some 
smooth  and  sharp  spear  heads,  some  with  long  sharp  points, 
and  others  wide  and  short,  and  made  for  both  wooden 
and  metal  handles, — a  fierce  looking  instrument,  some- 
thing like  a  dirk  knife,  with  blade  about  nine  inches 
long.  The  collection  is  of  remarkable  interest,  and 
must  contain  about  one  hundred  implements  of  copper 
alone.  We  have  thus  noticed  some  of  the  remains  of  the 
"  cave  dwellers."  and  "  mound-builders,"  the  two  pre-historic 
races,  whose  people  once  had  a  home  on  this  continent,  but 
which  have  been  swept  away,  leaving  only  these  fragments 


PRE-HISTORIC  KACES  AND  RELICS.  237 

behind,  to  denote  that  they  ever  had  an  existence.  As  we 
see  these  articles  of  such  varied  shapes,  designed  for  so  many 
uses,  indicating  races,  which  though  not  civilized,  yet  must 
have  possessed  a  considerable  degree  of  intelligence, — the 
mind  is  filled  with  questionings,  which  these  specimens  of 
their  workmanship  merely  suggest,  but  which  furnish  no 
answer.  When,  and  how,  did  these  races  reach  this  continent, 
and  people  it  in  such  numbers,  as  to  leave  behind  them,  these 
articles  of  their  manufacture,  in  localities  so  widely  separate 
from  each  other.  From  whence  did  they  come,  and  to  what 
branch  of  the  human  family  did  they  belong?  We  may  well 
say  with  Hamlet: 

"  There  are  more  things  in  heaven  and  earth,  Horatio, 
Than  are  dreamed  of  in  your  philosophy." 


Odds  and  Ends;  Here  and  There. 


The  Spanish  Building. 

This  is  quite  a  large  building,  and  contains  very  much  to  in- 
terest and  instruct.  Here  is  a  collection  of  coins  from  remote 
ages  down  to  the  present  time.  Some  of  the  oldest  ones  are 
of  silver,  and  are  very  large,  being  about  three  inches  in  di- 
ameter. A  collection  of  native  weapons  from  the  Phillipine 
Islands  is  shown,  having  bows  and  arrows  made  of  bamboo 
cane  with  metal  heads,  and  quivers  of  woven  cane,  and  also 
spears  of  many  patterns,  often  very  tastefully  made.  A  beau- 
tiful piece  of  shell  work  is  seen,  representing  the  figure  of  a 
worshipper  with  clasped  hands  before  a  cross,  which  has 
wreaths  hanging  over  it.  most  of  which  is  made  from  shells. 
A  curious  coat  of  arms  is  made  from  brass  plates,  joined  to- 
gether by  rings  between  them ;  and  near  it,  are  murderous 
looking  swords,  some  of  whose  blades  are  serpentine  with 
handles  of  various  shapes,  some  almost  like  needles,  some 
long  and  some  very  short,  and  a  battle  axe  inlaid  with  gold. 
On  one  side  lies  a  mahogany  log,  about  two  feet  square,  and 


THK    SPANISH    BUILDING. 


THE   SPANISH  BUILDING.  241 

twenty  feet  long;  one  side  of  which  is  polished,  showing  its 
beautiful  color  and  grain.  We  may  see  here  bamboo  canes 
from  eight  inches  in  diameter  down.  There  are  wax  models,  life 
size,  showing  the  uniform  and  weapons  of  the  Spanish  sol- 
diers. For  instance,  here  is  a  lancer,  with  an  iron  cap,  with 
lance  about  ten  feet  long,  dressed  in  light  blue  coat  and 
pants,  also  a  cavalry-man,  dressed  in  jacket,  very  gayly  em- 
broidered with  yellow,  and  blue  pants;  he,  also,  carrying  a  long 
lance.  There,  are,  also  small  brass  field  pieces,  models  of  pon- 
toon bridges,  mounted  artillery  fortications,  aqueducts,  and 
other  public  works. 

When  we  see  the  large  newspapers  of  to-day,  with  their 
immense  amount  of  news,  we  seldom  think  of  what  they 
used  to  be.  Here  is  a  specimen  of  the  "  New  England  Jour- 
nal" printed  in  1728, — a  very  small  sheet,  and  printed  on  a 
coarse  looking  paper.  The  editor  thus  begins  to  extol  his 
wares  for  the  commendable  purpose  of  increasing  his  subscrip- 
tion list.  "  There  are  measures  concerting,  for  rendering  this 
paper  more  universally  esteemed  and  useful,  in  which  'tis 
hoped  the  publick  will  be  gratified,  and  by  which  those  gentle- 
men who  desire  to  be  improved  in  history,  philosophy,  poetry, 
etc.,  will  be  greatly  advantaged." 

In  Cook,  Jenkins  &  Co/s  ticket  office  are  a  collection  of 
curiosities  from  Egypt,  amongst  which  is  a  mummy  of  an 
Egyptian  princess  or  priestess,  who  lived  three  thousand 


242       BEN  BEVEELY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

years  ago,  in  the  days  of  the  Pharaohs.  The  case  or  coffin  is 
made  of  wood,  and  covered  with  Egyptian  characters,  sup- 
posed to  be  prayers  for  the  dead.  The  body  is  black  and 
shrivelled,  and  was  bandaged  with  coarse  cloth.  At  the  head 
of  the  coffin  is  a  portrait,  supposed  to  be  that  of  the  occupant, 
which  is  in  colors,  and  represents  a  face  of  pleasing  expres- 
sion, and  strong  Egyptian  features.  There  are  also  a  collec- 
tion of  Egyptian  swords,  some  of  them  are  curved  almost 
like  sickles — slender  spears,  about  eighteen  feet  long,  fierce 
looking  daggers,  and  shields  made  of  hide,  carved  with 
designs,  and  so  hard  as  to  resist  any  blow  of  spear  or  sword. 

Here  is  a  building  containing  a  model  of  a  silver  quartz 
mill  from  Chili,  of  surprising  capacity,  and  it  plainly  indi- 
cates that  silver  mining  in  that  country,  must  be  an  import- 
ant interest.  There  are  six  large  hoppers  in  which  .the  ore 
is  dumped,  and  in  each  of  these,  there  turns  two  immense 
metal  wheels  which  crush  it  to  powder,  a  stream  of  water 
running  in  and  mixing  with  it.  It  is  then  transferred  into 
vats,  where  it  is  dried  by  evaporation,  then  put  into  revolv- 
ing barrels  where  it  remains  for  about  eig-ht  hours,  and  it  is 
subject  to  an  el  aborate  process  to  be  separated  by  the  use  of 
quicksilver.  It  is  a  vast  enterprise,  and  gives  us  a  glimpse  of 
the  capital  and  resources  of  that  country,  which  we  never 
had  before.  Near  it,  is  a  model  of  a  pneumatic  tube,  designed 
to  supersede  railroads,  -for  transmitting  mail  matter  and 


THE  SPANISH  BUILDING.  243 

freight.  It  is  a  long  air  tight  pipe,  smooth  inside,  from  one 
end  of  which  the  air  is  pumped,  and  a  ball,  fitting  closely, 
and  in  which  the  freight  is  placed,  is  started  at  the  other,  and 
driven  through  at  a  great  velocity  by  the  pressure  of  the  at- 
mosphere. It  is  claimed  that  a  velocity  of  one  hundred  miles 
per  hour,  can  be  attained  by  these  balls,  and  that  this  system 
is  practical  on  roads  many  miles  long,  the  balls  to  be  from 
seven  to  nine  feet  in  diameter. 

There  is  a  pile  driver  here,  worked  by  gunpowder,  and 
which  has  driven  a  pile  through  this  very  hard  clay,  seven- 
ty-two feet  down,  averaging  thirteen  inches  at  a  blow.  There 
are  two  very  heavy  iron  hammers,  working  in  a  groove  in  a 
frame,  one  above  the  other.  The  lower  one  which  strikes  the 
pile  has  a  hole  on  the  top  about  eighteen  inches  deep,  in 
which  an  iron  bar  from  the  other  enters.  When  used,  the 
upper  one  is  raised  about  ten  feet,  a  cartridge  with  percussion 
surface  is  thrown  in  the  hole  in  the  lower  hammer,  which  ex- 
plodes when  the  bar  in  the  upper  oue  falls  upon  it,  and  the 
explosion  both  drives  the  pile  down,  and  sends  the  upper  ham- 
mer up  about  ten  feet,  where  it  is  caught  by  machinery,  and 
held  until  the  process  is  repeated,  which  is  very  rapid.  This 
far  supercedes  the  old  method  by  driving  by  the  mere  weight 
of  the  hammer. 

The  French  have  a  separate  building,  which  is  extremely 
interesting  to  those  who  have  a  liking  to  examine  great 


24i       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

public  improvements;  and  it  affords  a  very  good  opportunity 
to  observe  the  enterprise  and  ingenuity  of  that  people  in 
works  of  this  kind.  Here  are  charts,  drawings  and  models 
of  their  greatest  public  works,  such  as  bridges,  roads,  aque- 
ducts, railroads,  the  methods  of  supplying  towns,  cities  and 
canals  with  water,  internal  navigation,  light-houses,  fortifica- 
tions, harbors,  and  many  other  things  that  show  the  won- 
derful system  of  public  improvements,  which  has  been  carried 
forward  in  France,  and  which  is  a  convincing  proof  of  their 
material  prosperity. 

We  find  an  exhibition  here  by  a  Humane  Society,  which  is 
a  sickening  evidence  of  the  depraving  of  human  brutes,  in  the 
fiendish  cruelty  they  exercise  toward  other  brutes.  Here  for 
instance,  is  shown  the  stuffed  body  of  a  bull-dog  after  a  fight, 
his  head  a  raw,  bleeding  mass  of  wounds,  his  mouth  torn 
open,  one  foot  bitten  to  pieces,  his  eyes  almost  torn  out,— a 
sight  which  sickens  us  to  see;  also  stuffed  specimens  of  cocks 
after  they  have  fought,  which  are  equally  repulsive;  and  we 
naturally  wonder,  how  it  is  possible  for  the  human  heart  to 
attain  such  loathsome  depravity,  as  to  take  delight  in  such 
'disgusting  spectacles.  Here  are  pictures  of  miserable  horses, 
which  have  been  found  at  work  with  great  raw  sores  under 
the  collars,  and  other  parts  of  the  harness,  and  clubs  are 
shown,  with  long  spikes  in  the  end,  which  were  used  by 
drivers  in  driving  swine  and  cattle.  So  long  as  men  are  cruel 


THE  JAPANESE  BUILDING. 


THE  SPANISH  BUILDING.  247 

to  beasts,  they  will  be  cruel  to  each  other;  and  these  Humane 
Societies  should  be  aided  by  every  one,  who  feels  any  desire  to 
see  humanity  and  public  morals  on  a  higher  plane. 

"Old  Abe,"  the  famous  war  eagle  from  Wisconsin,  who 
was  carried  by  a  regiment  through  battles  and  campaigns,  is 
doing  his  part  to  make  the  Exposition  a  success,  for  he  sits 
patiently  all  the  day  long,  eyeing  and  turning  his  head  at  the 
curious  faces  continually  around  him,  thus  making  his  fame 
more  enduring. 


Studies  from  the  Art  Gallery. 


Soul  in  Colors. 

Some  men  become  famous  by  writing  a  single  poem;  but 
we  see  before  us  the  portrait  of  a  man  whose  fame  rests 
largely  upon  a  single  line  of  poetry,  more  than  all  else.  It 
is  Bishop  Berkeley,  the  author  of  the  familiar  line  that  has 
glittered  like  a  gem  in  so  many  orations,  and  rounded  off  so 

many  periods,  in  daring  flights  of  eloquence — 

"Westward  the  star  of  empire  takes  its  way." 

It  is  a  most  beautiful  face, — full,  fresh  and  blooming;  a 
mouth  expressive  of  good  humor;  a  well-set  nose;  darkly 
arched  eyebrows,  and  kindly  dark  eyes,  all  set  off  to  fine 
advantage  by  a  graceful  wig,  which  gives  a  dignified  courtli- 
ness to  the  figure,  which  nothing  else  can  supply. 

We  will  next  examine  a  most  interesting  picture,  entitled 
"  Milton  and  his  daughters."  The  blind  old  poet  is  sitting  in 
his  arm  chair,  with  his  cane  in  one  hand  and  the  other  raised 
towards  his  head,  as  if  he  were  struggling  to  find  expression 
for  his  sublime  fancy, — his  face  showing  in  a  wonderful  man- 


SOUL  IN  COLORS.  251 

ner,  the  working  of  the  mind,  which  is  wholly  absorbed  in 
deep  thought.  His  youngest  daughter  sits  towards  him,  as  if 
to  encourage  him  by  her  near  presence, — the  lamp  shedding 
its  mellow  light  on  her  exquisite  profile,  rich  dark  hair  and 
white  neck,  with  charming  effect;  while  the  elder  sister  sits 
in  the  shadow  of  the  lamp,  and  is  busily  engaged  as  amanu- 
ensis, and  is  recording  for  posterity,  the  welcome  words  as 
they  are  dictated  by  the  grand  old  bard. 

A  very  expressive  picture  is  entitled  "The  marriage  of  the 
Covenanters."  The  scene  is  in  a  Scottish  glen,  and  on  an 
eminence  in  the  distance,  a  sentinel  is  seen  to  apprise  the  com- 
pany of  danger.  The  heroic  bride  and  groom  stand  in  the 
foreground,  waiting  for  the  service,  and  the  pastor  is  looking 
seriously  at  the  groom,  as  if  to  divine  whether  he  had  strength 
of  will  sufficiently  to  warrant  this  important  step,  in  such 
troublous  times.  The  old  church  clerk  has  his  book  in  his 
hand,  and  his  inkstand  on  a  rock,  ready  to  make  the  record. 
At  a  distance  a  disputatious  old  covenanter  is  arguing  some 
mooted  point,  and  has  his  finger  on  his  bible,  as  if  to  clinch 
his  argument.  On  the  other  side  a  sturdy  warrior,  clad  in 
armor,  looks  gloomily,  as  if  thinking  the  future  too  dark  for 
such  a  step,  while  near  him,  some  maidens  are  peering,  cur- 
ious to  see  the  ceremony.  The  picture  is  large  and  worthy  of 
study. 

Who  does  not  remember  "  Eva  St.  Glair,"  in  "Uncle  Tom's 


BEN"  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

Cabin,1'  one  of  the  purest  creations  in  the  whole  realm  of  fic- 
tions, and  which  lingers  in  the  memory  as  an  angel  of  light 
and  beauty.  Here  is  a  beautiful  picture  in  the  Italian  gallery, 
representing  her  as  described  in  that  exquisite  passage  in  the 
story — sitting  in  the  garden,  reading  her  bible,  a  face  dreamy 
and  thoughtful,  as  if  wondering  at  the  glories  of  the  New 
Jerusalem,  described  in  her  favorite  book  of  Revelations.  Her 
features  are  beautiful;  but  not  so  much  as  the  soul  which  shines 
through  them,  and  gives  her  face  an  expression  of  angelic 
purity. 

We  will  next  notice  a  very  fine  picture  in  the  German  gal- 
lery, called  "Lady  Jane  Grey's  triumph  over  Bishop  Gardiner," 
which  is  worthy  of  the  most  careful  study.  It  represents 
Lady  Jane  in  the  dungeon,  seated,  with  Bible  before  her, 
clothed  in  a  robe  of  scarlet  velvet,  with  the  high  white  col- 
lars of  that  day.  She  sits  erect,  and  her  sweet,  and  perfect 
face  is  expressive  of  the  strongest  resolution.  At  her  side  is 
a  table,  and  on  it,  the  pen  and  ink  with  which  she  has  refus- 
ed to  sign  the  articles  of  recantation.  Between  her  and  the 
door,  stands  the  Bishop,  clothed  in  his  robe  of  purple  and 
ermine,  and  skull-cap — one  hand  on  a  chair,  the  other 
clutching  the  roll  she  has  refused  to  sign,  wearing  a  stern 
countenance.  His  eyes  flash  with  rage  and  indignation,  and 
he  looks  at  her  with  a  vindictive  expression,  which  she  re- 
turns with  a  calm  but  resolute  gaze.  Behind,  her  chair  stands 


SOUL  IN  COLOES.  253 

her  faithful  attendant,  her  hands  clasped  in  grief  and  despair, 
but  looking  intently  through  her  tears  at  the  Bishop,  to  see 
if  there  are  no  signs  of  relenting  in  his  countenance.  No  one 
can  see  this  striking  conception  of  the  subject,  without  ad- 
miring more  than  ever  before,  the  sweet  disposition  and 
dauntless  courage  of  the  noble,  but  unfortunate  heroine. 

In  the  French  gallery  is  a  massive  picture,  which  is  one  of 
the  most  noticeable  in  the  entire  collection.  The  subject  is 
"  Rispah  protecting  the  bodies  of  her  sons,"  and  the  story  is 
told  in  the  Bible,  in  2  Sam.,  xx." 

The  picture  is  a  scene  draped  with  the  shadows  of  night. 
As  far  as  the  eye  can  penetrate  the  gloom,  are  seen  desolate 
rocks,  dangerous  seams  and  frightful  chasms.  In  the  dis- 
tance, ominous  birds  of  prey  are  approaching.  In  the  fore- 
ground is  a  rude  frame,  on  which  the  bodies  of  the  young 
men  are  hung,  their  spears,  shields  and  swords  placed  above 
them.  The  bodies  are  naked,  except  that  some  have  girdles, 
necklace  and  helmet,  and  in  the  dim  light  they  have  a  most 
pallid  and  ghastly  appearance.  Rispah  stands  in  front  of  the 
gibbet,  a  inagnificient  figure  of  the  strongest  type  of  Jewish 
beauty;  her  large  black  eyes  angrily  flashing  as  she  stands, 
with  club  in  one  hand,  and  the  other  upraised,  to  ward  off  an 
immense  eagle,  which,  with  talons  and  beak  extended,  is 
endeavoring  to  reach  the  bodies.  She  is  clothed  in  a  rich 
yellow  robe,  with  a  heavy  figured  purple  sash  around  her 


254       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

body,  and  a  purple  robe  hanging  loosely  from  her  head; 
and  in  the  conflict  with  the  fierce  bird  of  prey,  she  stands 
erect,  defiant,  and  resolute — her  mother's  grief  finding  expres- 
sion in  the  heroic  protection  of  the  mangled  bodies  of  her 
beautiful  sons.  In  the  distance  are  smoke  and  clouds  and 
murky  vapors.  The  scene  is  one  of  wonderful  power,  and 
one  which  the  memory  will  not  willingly  let  slip. 


Studies  of  the  Beautiful. 


Italy  is  celebrated  as  the  land  of  art  and  song.  Where  the 
sky  is  so  blue,  the  shadows  so  soft,  the  landscapes  so  charm- 
ing, it  is  not  strange,  that  an  atmosphere  of  art  is  created, 
and  that  men  are  tempted  to  copy  with  the  chisel  and  brush, 
the  varied  charms  which  surround  them.  In  this  bewilder- 
ing collection  of  exquisite  statuary,  it  will  be  impossible  to 
notice  all  that  well  deserve  study,  but  let  us  examine  a  few 
of  the  most  admirable,  both  as  to  the  nature  of  the  subject, 
and  to  the  most  perfect  skill  of  the  artist.  Here  is  a  beau- 
tiful piece  of  work  called  "After  School,"  which  will  bring 
back  to  thousands,  the  golden  memories  of  that  opening  page, 
that  illuminated  frontispiece  of  life — the  school  days  of  girl- 
hood. It  is  a  full  length  figure  of  a  school-girl,  in  that  golden 


STUDIES  OF  THE   BEAUTIFUL.  255 

period  of  life,  when  the  charming  simplicity  of  childhood,  is 
blended  with  the  grace  and  dignity  of  coming  womanhood. 
She  has  ball  in  hand,  ready  for  a  joyous  game,  and  is  carrying 
a  garland  of  flowers.  Her  beautiful  face  is  no  longer  made 
somber  by  the  shadows  of  study,  but  it  is  smiling,  joyous — as 
if  inviting  and  welcoming  every  recreation,  which  the  restful 
moments  can  bring.  Notice  the  graceful,  natural  poise  of 
the  body,  suggestive  of  the  poetry  of  motion;  the  delicately 
moulded  throat,  the  hair  thrown  back,  as  if  revelling  in  its 
freedom ;  and  the  whole  is  a  study  of  airy  grace,  and  winsome 
light-heartedness,  which  the  eye  dwells  upon  with  fondness, 
and  the  memory  recalls  with  infinite  delight. 

But  we  turn  to  two  figures,  of  mother  and  child,  entitled, 
"  Beggars,1'  and  wonder  whether  in  Italy  there  is  such  a  re- 
dundance of  beauty  and  gracefulness,  that  even  the  beggew 
are  fit  to  sit  as  models  for  the  most  ambitious  artist.  Beauty 
is  a  queen  that  cannot  be  concealed  by  rags,  or  by  any  out- 
ward condition  of  life;  and  so  in  the  sweet  expressive  face  and 
comely  form  of  this  beggar  woman,  she  reigns  triumphant, 
over  poverty  and  adverse  fate.  The  garment  is  old  and  tat- 
tered, but  how  gracefully  it  sweeps  down  fold  after  fold, — the 
spirit  may  be  crushed  and  the  mien,  submissive  and  cringing, 
but  how  expressive  the  downcast  eyes  and  the  patient  and  ap- 
pealing cast  of  countenance,  all  forming  a  type  of  beauty  which 
makes  poverty  an  adornment,  and  sorrow  a  garb  of  comeli- 


256       BEN  BEVEELY  AT  THE  GKEAT  EXPOSITION. 

ness.  And  how  the  heart  is  touched  by  this  boy  beggar, 
with  the  head  of  a  cherub,  whose  cheeks  are  not  yet  sunken 
by  hunger  nor  hardened  by  crime.  He  stands  forward  ap- 
pealing for  alms,  with  face  downcast;  but  nature  is  too  ex- 
uberant, his  curiosity  to  see  the  gift,  is  too  powerful  to  re- 
sist, and  his  beautiful  eyes  are  cautiously  peering  under  the 
rich  lashes,  while  his  face  is  faintly  illumined  by  the  re- 
pressed roguery  of  his  child  nature,  with  which  he  is  richly 
endowed,  but  which  he  has  already  learned  to  conceal.  How 
these  white  chiselings  become,  indeed,  "sermons  in  stone," 
and  recall  to  our  inner  nature,  the  infinitely  varying  phases 
of  human  experience,  not  only  of  the  outward  life,  but  also 
of  the  heart,  and  inner  consciousness. 

Here  is  a  beautiful  piece  of  statuary,  which  shows  in  a 
very  marked  manner,  the  wonderful  possibilities  of  the 
sculptor's  art,  which  is  called  "  The  Veiled  Girl."  The  face  is 
represented  as  closely  veiled,  and  yet  the  large  expressive 
eyes  and  drooping  lids,  the  aquiline  nose,  and  finely  shaped 
mouth  are  plainly  discernible,  as  if  the  veil  were  half  trans- 
parent. It  seems  impossible  that  you  are  gazing  at  a  solid 
block  of  marble,  for  the  illusion  is  so  complete,  that  you  feel 
tempted  to  draw  the  veil  aside,  and  see  in  all  their  perfection, 
the  charming,  half  disclosed  features. 

But  we  will  turn  from  these  triumphs  of  art  from  sunny 
Italy,  and  notice  a  few  from  artists  of  our  own  country. 


STUDIES  OF  THE  BEAUTIFUL.  257 

Miss  Vinnie  Ream  has  been  the  subject  of  much  newspaper 
comment,  and  to  read  the  editorials  and  criticisms  in  our 
political  journals,  one  would  suppose  that  she  was  more 
entitled  to  distinction  as  a  lobbyist,  than  as  an  artist.  But 
here  is  her  work,  standing  side  by  side  with  that  of  others, 
to  be  judged  by  its  own  merits,  and  asking  no  measured 
praise  in  its  favor.  The  beautiful  statue,  called  "  The  West," 
is  one  of  her  productions,  and  is  truly  a  charming  concep- 
tion. It  is  a  full  length  female  figure,  holding  a  compass  in  one 
arm,  and  a  surveyor's  chain  in  the  other.  She  has  a  classical 
face,  luxuriant  hair  flowing  back,  and  is  standing  on  a  sheaf 
of  wheat,  with  arrows  and  broken  bow  at  her  feet.  There  is 
something  so  airy  and  sprightly  about  it,  as  to  be  almost  an 
exhiliration.  The  pose  is  extremely  graceful,  and  the  expres- 
sion of  the  face  looking  at  something  beyond  in  the  distance, 
is  the  history  of  the  great  West  in  a  look.  To  almost  every 
one,  the  West  is  a  subject  full  of  never  failing  interest  and 
pride.  It  is  suggestive  of  heroic  endeavor,  and  its  richest  re- 
wards,— of  wildernesses  made  to  blossom,  of  fortunes  repaired, 
of  an  asylum  for  the  poor.  It  is  the  land  of  golden  hopes, 
great  achievement,  and  romantic  exploits.  All  of  this  is  sug- 
gested by  this  beautiful  figure,  so  eloquent  in  expression. 

Here  is  another  statue  by  the  same  artist,  a  full  length  figure 
of  "  Miriam,"  the  prophetess.  To  me,  this  woman,  so  full  of 
song  and  praise  as  to  seize  a  timbrel,  and  to  lead  in  a  dance 


258  BEN"  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

and  chorus  of  joy  and  thanksgiving,  before  the  assembled 
hosts  of  Israel,  has  always  been  one  of  the  richest  female  char- 
acters in  the  Bible,  and  worthy  of  the  most  glowing  concep- 
tion of  the  artist.  Here  we  have  a  beautiful  face,  full  of  en- 
thusiasm, a  graceful  figure  draped  in  flowing  robes,  and  lean- 
ing forward  as  if  to  lead  the  procession,  while  in  her  hand  the 
timbrel  is  uplifted,  as  if  she  were  almost  delirious  with  the  joy 
of  leading  the  rapturous  song  of  triumph. 

Another  most  exquisite  creation  of  genius,  is  a  statue  rep- 
resenting that  famous  beauty  of  antiquity,  so  celebrated  in 
song  and  story,  Helen  of  Troy.  It  is  an  inspiration  of  beauty, 
showing  the  most  delicate  and  regular  features,  a  magnificent 
figure,  an  admirable  pose,  and  glorious  hair,  wavy  and  flow- 
ing, and  is  justly  entitled  to  be  ranked  as  one  of  the  most 
admirable  pieces  of  statuary  in  the  collection.  But  let  us 
turn  for  a  short  time,  to  this  most  gorgeous  painting,  in  the 
Austrian  gallery,  entitled,  "  Venice  paying  homage  to  Cat- 
erina  Cornaro."  It  is  about  thirty-six  feet  long,  and  four- 
teen feet  high,  and  in  brilliancy  of  coloring,  richness  of  de- 
sign, and  exquisite  finish,  it  is  a  marvel  of  perfection.  Cor- 
naro was  the  wife  of  a  king,  and  on  the  death  of  her  husband, 
presented  her  kingdom  to  the  Republic  of  Venice,  and  in 
grateful  acknowledgment  of  her  generosity,  the  citizens, 
once  a  year,  brought  these  gifts  to  do  her  homage,  and  this  is 
the  subject  of  the  artist.  Cornaro  is  attired  in  the  richest 


STUDIES  OF  THE  BEAUTIFUL.  259 

embroidered  robe  of  purple  and  gold,  and  is  seated  on  an 
elevated  position,  on  a  chair  of  state,  which  is  overhung  with 
a  canopy  of  scarlet  drapery.  She  has  an  exquisitely  beautiful 
face  and  figure,  and  is  seated  with  perfect  grace  and  dignity,  and 
extends  her  hand  most  graciously  to  those  who  present  their 
offerings.  At  her  side,  stands  a  cardinal  in  scarlet  robes,  and 
easy  dignified  posture.  Before  her  a  beautiful  woman  is  pre- 
senting a  casket  of  jewels,  another  an  offering  of  flowers  and 
fruit.  Further  back,  a  venerable  sage,  with  bent  form  and 
long  white  beard,  presses  forward  to  do  her  homage,  while 
behind  follows  a  water-carrier  with  a  finely  ornamented  vase 
on  her  head, — a  fine,  stately,  erect  figure,  with  rich  olive  skin, 
and  magnificent  profile.  Further  back  is  another  female,  with 
face  of  most  bewildering  beauty,  and  near  her,  an  Ethiopian, 
covered  with  a  rich,  red  velvet  robe,  is  hastening  to  present  a 
casket  of  pearls,  while  above,  in  an  elevated  position, 
stands  the  troubadour,  with  long  black  hair,  and  dark,  dreamy 
face,  leaning  gracefully  against  a  column,  dressed  in  red  cap 
and  purple  robe,  and  thrumming  his  guitar.  It  is  a  picture 
of  wonderful  brill  ian  cy — of  tropical  gorgeousness.  In  richness 
and  luxuriance  of  design  and  coloring,  it  is  perhaps  the  most 
remarkable  of  any  work  in  the  entire  collection. 

A  beautiful  conception  is  a  picture  entitled,  tkDay,"  in  the 
Norwegian  gallery.  It  represents  a  spirited  war  horse  bound- 
ing through  the  clouds,  on  which  is  seated  a  beautiful  boy, with 


BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

fair,  open  face,  dressed  in  blue  robe  and  red  cloak,  who  is 
holding  up  a  blazing  torch  with  outstretched  hand.  The 
steed  is  so  spirited,  the  face  so  fair,  the  coloring  so  harmo- 
nious, the  conception  so  poetic,  that  one  can  scarce  see  it 
without  having  the  imagination  quickened. 

But  one  of  the  sweetest  and  most  suggestive  works  of  art, 
is  a  piece  of  Italian  statuary,  entitled,  "  Faith."  It  represents 
a  closely  veiled  female  figure,  but  yet  the  head  is  erect,  and 
the  manner  triumphant,  as  if  she  had  the  most  unshaken  con- 
fidence in  the  way  before  her,  and  implicit  faith  in  the  future. 
It  is  impossible  to  describe  in  words,  the  wonderful  beauty  of 
this  sweet  and  delicate  conception, — the  very  impersonation  of 
loving  trust  and  unquestioning  faith.  It  looks  as  if  you  could 
pierce  through  the  veil,  and  see  the  expression  of  triumph 
underneath. 

Grlimpses  of  the  Horrible. 


A  Spanish  picture,  entitled,  "  A  Duel  in  the  Seventeenth 
Century,1'  represents  two  cavaliers,  with  strong  Spanish  fea- 
tures, who  are  engaged  in  a  duel,  with  swords.  One  has 
received  a  fatal  wound,  dropped  his  sword,  and  staggered 
against  the  wall  for  support.  The  expression  of  agony  on 
his  sallow  face,  and  his  apparent  exhaustion  are  fearful  in 
the  extreme. 


GLIMPSES  OF  THE  HORRIBLE.  261 

The  Pope  sent  from  Rome,  a  wonderful  picture  in  tapestry, 
"  The  Martyrdom  of  St.  Agnes,"  in  which  the  martyr  stands 
on  a  pile  of  burning  fagots,  her  face  upraised  to  Heaven  in 
prayer.  The  colors  on  this  are  so  finely  worked,  that  at  a 
short  distance  it  might  be  taken  for  an  oil  painting. 

"  Prometheus  Bound,"  is  a  massive  English  picture,  in 
which  the  magnificent  form  of  Prometheus,  is  chained  to 
the  rock,  the  muscles  of  his  body  showing  his  agony,  but  his 
face  resolute  and  defiant.  The  vultures  are  about  him,  ready 
to  tear  out  his  vitals,  but  his  spirit  does  not  quail. 

UA  Scene  at  the  Destruction  of  Pompeii,"  is  a  graphic 
representation  of  the  terrible  catastrophe.  A  group  have 
taken  refuge  in  a  cellar.  A  magnificient  beauty  has  fallen 
unconsciously  into  the  lap  of  her  mother,  her  jewel  case 
beside  her,  the  jewels  half  thrown  out — while  the  mother 
regards  her  with  distraction.  A  matron  is  bringing  in  her 
naked  boy,  who  hides  his  face  from  the  sight.  A  beautiful 
maiden,  terror  stricken,  looks  on  the  scene  with  horror,  and 
rests  in  the  arms  of  her  slave,  who  leans  back  as  if  resigned 
to  her  fate.  The  lurid  light  from  burning  lava  streams  in  at 
the  entrance,  and  warns  them  of  their  doom. 

English  history  is  blotted  with  the  record  of  many  dark 
deeds,  but  one  of  the  most  horrible  in  its  atrocity,  was  the 
blinding  of  Prince  Arthur.  In  the  German  gallery,  this  is 
made  the  subject  of  a  picture,  which  we  will  notice.  The 


262       BEN  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GEEAT  EXPOSITION. 

scene  is  in  the  prince's  bed-chaniber.  Arthur  is  a  beautful 
boy,  dressed  in  blue  attire,  and  having  long  auburn  curls,  and 
stands  with  his  hands  thrown  up  to  the  old  grey-headed  jailer, 
as  if  with  confidence  and  trustfulness.  The  jailer,  with  the 
heart  of  a  fiend,  holds  the  boy's  head  with  his  left  hand,  and 
with  the  right  is  covertly  seizing  behind  him,  a  pair  of 
pincers  holding  a  piece  of  red-hot  iron,  with  which  to  sear 
the  eyeballs  of  the  innocent  and  unsuspecting  boy.  The  hot 
iron  is  being  taken  from  a  vessel  of  burning  charcoal,  which 
is  brought  by  two  swarthy  black-smiths,  who  shrink  back, 
as  if  unable  to  bear  the  horrid  sight.  And,  so  is  shown,  one 
of  the  most  cruel  and  fiendish  crimes  which  history  records. 

Another  horrible  picture  is  one  entitled,  u  The  Inquisition,' 
representing  a  victim  undergoing  torture,  stretched  on  his 
back,  with  arms  and  feet  bound,  while  fire  is  applied  to  the 
soles  of  his  feet.  The  agony  expressed  in  the  countenance  of 
the  poor  writhing  victim,  and  the  diabolical  fiendishness  of 
the  inhuman  inquisitors,  are  alike  shown,  and  cause  a  shud- 
der at  such  a  fearful  exhibition  of  "  man's  inhumanity  to 
man." 

In  the  Belgium  gallery  is  a  grand  painting  entitled,  "Chris- 
tian Martyrs  in  reign  of  Diocletian."  The  scene  is  in  a  dun- 
geon, with  massive  stone  walls,  in  which,  on  a  pallet  of 
straw,  on  the  stone  floor,  lies  a  young  Christian  martyr  asleep. 
He  is  naked,  except  a  girdle  about  his  loins;  in  his  hand  he 


THE  HUMOROUS  IN  ART.  263 

grasps  the  cross,  as  if  unwilling  to  be  separated  from  it,  even 
in  his  dreams.  He  lies  with  his  face  towards  us — a  beautiful, 
youthful  face,  with  a  look,  peaceful  and  serene,  as  if  fanned 
by  the  wings  of  angels, — the  finely  cut  mouth,  half  open,  as 
if  with  the  simplicity  of  childhood,  while  the  relaxed  muscles 
and  every  position  of  his  magnificent  form  show  a  slumber, 
serene,  natural,  and  refreshing.  The  keeper  is  just  throwing 
back  the  immense  doors  of  thick  timbers;  and  through  a  chink 
of  the  door,  a  ray  of  sunlight  falls  across  the  body  of  the  sleep- 
er, like  a  benediction  of  mercy,  to  illumine  his  few  brief  mo- 
ments of  life,  with  a  foretaste  of  heavenly  glory. 

The  partly  opened  door  reveals  the  immense  amphitheatre, 
with  gallery  above  gallery,  crowded  with  eager  spectators, 
waiting  impatiently  for  the  bloody  and  uneven  combat; 
while  on  one  side,  the  mouth  and  claws  of  a  ravenous  tiger 
are  seen,  impatiently  awaiting  his  feast  of  human  gore. 

The  Humorous  in  Art. 


Humor  does  not  seem  to  be  a  favorite  quality  with  artists, 
for  they  generally  aim  at  subjects  which  contain  elements  of 
sublimity,  esthetic  beauty,  or  historic  interest;  and  conse- 
quently it  is  not  strange  that  we  find  but  comparatively  few 
pictures  of  a  humorous  character.  Yet  there  are  sufficient  to 


264      BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

arouse  one's  sense  of  the  ludicrous  in  a  high  degree,  and 
these  are  probably  enough.  The  most  remarkable  is  one  of 
Landseers',  called  uThe  Travelled  Monkey."  An  old  monkey 
has  returned  from  his  travels  to  the  secluded  glen,  where  his 
tribe  dwells,  and  is  surrounded  by  his  wondering  acquaint- 
ances, to  whom  he  is  relating  his  adventures.  He  is  dressed 
in  the  height  of  fashion;  a  flowing  wig,  velvet  cap,  scarlet  coat, 
and  the  accessories  of  a  fashionable  dandy,  including  all  the 
airs  and  attitudes  of  the  most  conceited  fop.  He  carries  his 
gloves  in  his  left  hand,  and  with  his  right,  jauntily  holds  the 
butt  of  his  riding  whip  to  his  mouth,  so  that  it  shall  surely 
be  noticed.  At  a  distance,  one  of  his  curious  friends,  who 
has  stolen  his  snuff  box,  is  in  great  grief,  having  opened  the 
box,  and  in  inspecting  the  contents,  got  the  snuff  into  his 
nose,  mouth  and  eyes,  and  is  sneezing  and  rubbing  his  eyes 
with  most  astonishing  vigor;  while  another,  of  like  curious 
disposition,  has  torn  off  a  piece  of  gold  lace  from  the  trav- 
eler's coat  tail,  and  is  picking  it  to  pieces,  with  great  dili- 
gence, and  appears  to  receive  much  satisfaction  from  the 
operation.  An  old  monkey  is  about  to  shake  hands  with  the 
distinguished  tourist,  but  looks  intently,  as  if  wondering 
whether  he  is  not  mistaken,  and  holding  up  his  left  hand  in 
speechless  astonishment.  In  the  far  distance  are  seen  the 
elegant  mansions  and  towering  spires  of  the  busy  world,  and 
fashionable  life,  from  which  the  illustrious  traveler  has 


THE  HUMOROUS  IN  AET.  265 

returned.      The  picture  is  a  rich  satire  on  some  of  the  frail- 
ties of  mankind. 

Another  exquisite  bit  of  humor  is  called  "Nobody  was  born 
a  Master."  A  roguish  boy  is  shaving  his  grandfather,  and  has 
sliced  off  a  large  piece  of  his  face.  The  wrathy  old  gentleman 
is  ascertaining  the  extent  of  the  damage  by  a  mirror,  while 
the  young  rogue  stands  off,  out  of  reach,  with  razor  in  hand; 
but  there  is  a  merry  twinkle  in  his  eye  which  he  cannot  re- 
strain, and  it  requires  his  utmost  effort  to  look  demure. 

"The  Contented  Hermit,"  is  another  picture,  rich  with  hu- 
mor. The  old  hermit  has  one  of  those  jolly  faces  that  will  have 
their  way,  and  as  he  sits  on  a  rock,  fast  asleep,  with  his  head 
against  a  tree,  and  his  violin  in  one  hand  and  bow  in  the 
other,  he  looks  the  very  picture  of  content,  notwithstanding 
his  coarse  robe,  bare  breast,  and  the  grinning  skull  beside 
him. 

Another  strange  picture  represents  Louis  XI.,  of  France, 
sick,  and  gypsies  have  brought  into  the  palace  educated 
pigs,  dressed  in  costume,  to  dance  before  him,  and  thus  en- 
tertain him.  While  one  is  dancing,  another  is  being  trained 
at  a  short  distance  away.  What  would  be  thought  now,  of  a 
powerful  monarch  of  an  enlightened  country,  if  he  required 
such  diversions. 

"  Chesterfield's  Ante-room,"  is  a  picture  that  will  provoke  a 
smile.  In  the  gorgeously  furnished  room,  sits  Dr.  Johnson, 


266       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

who  has  apparently  been  admitted  by  the  servants,  and  been 
waiting  some  time  for  the  appearance  of  the  accomplished 
Chesterfield.  Liveried  servants  and  pretty  maids  are  crack- 
ing their  jokes  at  the  gruff  and  burly  philosopher,  while  he 
sits  fuming  with  impatience,  and  beside  himself  with  vexation, 
at  being  so  shockingly  snubbed  by  his  noble  patron. 

"A  Whisky  Ring"  represents  a  melancholy  instance  of  the 
woes  of  the  lower  animals,  if  they  aspire  to  imitate  the 
example  of  men.  A  bottle  of  whisky  had  been  left  unopened 
by  some  careless  teetotaler,  and  a  boisterous  company  of 
mice,  out  on  a  spree,  and  determined  to  have  a  good  time, 
have  upset  it,  and  are  in  all  the  stages  of  delirious  exaltation. 
One,  more  enterprising  than  the  rest,  has  already  indulged  so 
much  that  he  lies  stretched  out,  supposed  to  be  supremely 
happy,  and  entirely  indifferent  to  the  obligations  of  exist- 
ence; another  is  rapidly  hastening  to  the  same  condition,  but 
has  still  self-consciousness  enough  left  to  kick  one  hind  leg 
and  to  raise  his  head,  and  gaze  despairingly  at  his  feeble 
movements,  and  his  total  inability  to  help  himself;  another, 
who  is  almost  human  in  his  indomitable  dissipation,  is  already 
powerless  on  his  back,  but  still  licking  the  mouth  of  the 
bottle,  determined  to  die  game,  while  his  more  cautious  neigh- 
bor, of  a  more  philosophic  turn  of  mind,  is  peering  into  the 
mouth  of  the  bottle,  determined  to  satisfy  his  inquiring  dis- 
position by  property  preliminary  investigation,  before  com- 


CHARACTER  IN"  CHISELIXGS.  269 

mitting  himself  to  the  forgetfulness   of  intoxication.     The 
picture  is  not  only  a  burlesque,  but  a  sermon. 


Character  in  Chiselings. 


Here  is  a  wonderful  statute  of  "Media,"  who  in  ancient 
mythology,  was  a  princess  famous  for  her  skill  in  sorcery. 
She  became  the  wife  of  Jason,  and  helped  him  to  obtain  the 
celebrated  golden  fleece,  but  was  afterwards  deserted  by  him, 
and  in  revenge,  murdered  their  two  children.  The  statue 
represents  her  as  if  in  meditation  before  the  bloody,  and  un- 
natural crime  was  committed, — holding  the  dagger  in  her 
right  hand,  the  left  upraised  as  if  nervous  and  irresolute, — 
her  head  downcast  as  if  in  deep  thought,  her  beautiful  face 
expressive  of  intense  anger,  and  yet  doubting  whether  to 
gratify  her  revenge.  Her  wavy  hair  is  thrown  back,  and 
bound  in  place;  her  flowing  robes  fall  in  the  most  graceful 
folds,  and  the  position  of  the  body  is  singularly  easy  and 
natural.  Altogether  it  is  a  triumph  of  art,  and  is  the  work 
of  W.  W.  Story,  the  famous  American  sculptor,  now  at  Rome. 

Miss  Edmonia  Lewis,  the  colored  artist,  has  a  full  length 
figure  in  marble,  entitled  "Cleopatra  in  Death,"  which  at- 
tracts much  attention.  The  figure  is  reclining  in  a  royal 
chair,  the  body  thrown  back,  and  the  head  resting  on  one 


270  BEN   BEVERLY  AT  THE  GEEAT   EXPOSITION. 

side,  as  if  tired  of  life.  The  face  has  strongly  marked  features, 
and  wears  a  wearied,  desperate  expression.  In  her  right 
hand  she  holds  the  asp,  which  is  writhing  in  her  grasp,  but 
her  disgust  and  weariness  of  life  is  so  intense,  that  she  is  in- 
different to  its  poison  and  fangs,  and  does  not  even  notice  its 
angry  struggles.  Her  face  represents  a  cruel,  sensuous,  and 
restless  nature,  without  any  satisfaction  in  the  past,  or  hope 
for  the  future,  and  determined  to  cast  away  the  precious 
boon  of  life,  as  if  it  were  a  bauble  not  worth  the  having,  and 
thus  quench  the  pangs  of  remorse  and  disappointment. 

But  here  is  a  colossal  bust  that  would  attract  notice 
anywhere.  Shaggy  hair  and  beard,  a  noble  brow,  large  full 
eyes,  a  large  well  shaped  nose,  a  firm  and  decided  mouth,  and 
an  expression  of  strength  of  will,  that  would  resist  the  power 
of  worlds  sooner  than  succumb;  it  is  such  a  face  and  head  as 
we  might  suppose  would  belong  to  one  of  earth's  noblest 
heroes.  And  in  the  light  of  history,  who  shall  say  it  did  not, 
for  it  belonged  to  a  man,  who  though  misguided  in  judgment, 
sacrificed  his  life  for  a  principle,  and  was  actuated  by  the 
most  sincere  convictions  of  duty, — John  Brown. 

We  next  notice  a  fine  statue  of  Humboldt,  the  great  Ger- 
man traveler  and  savan.  A  massive  brow,  regular  features, 
kindly  eyes,  a  large,  well  set  nose,  projecting  eyebrows,  a  face 
of  thoughtfulness  and  intellectual  power,  with  the  broad  cheek 
bones  peculiar  to  the  German  type  of  countenance.  Hair  long 


CHARACTER  IN  CHISELINQS.  271 

and  curly,  and  thrown  back  from  the  brow.  A  piece  of  work 
that  should  be  a  sermon  to  thousands  who  will  see  it,  whose 
lives  are  listless  and  aimless,  for  it  shows  the  lineaments  of  one 
of  the  world's  noblest  workers. 

The  old  hero  Garibaldi,  whose  life  has  been  spent  in  the 
cause  of  Italian  liberty,  is  one  of  the  favorites  of  the  sculptors 
— several  of  his  statues  being  here  by  different  artists.  Long, 
straight,  coarse  hair  and  mustache,  hollow  cheeks,  sunken 
eyes,  and  a  large  nose,  he  looks  like  the  strong,  rugged  char- 
acter as  he  is,  as  grim  and  unyielding  in  his  purposes,  when 
fully  aroused  as  inexorable  fate,  yet  with  a  nature  so  impres- 
sible and  fervid,  as  to  glow  with  the  fiercest  heat  of  enthusi- 
asm, and  so  tender  as  to  melt  with  sympathy,  for  those  in  dis- 
tress. 

A  beautiful  statue  of  Dante,  shows  a  tall,  graceful,  dignified 
figure,  with  flowing  robes,  reaching  to  the  feet,  holding  in 
his  hand  a  roll  pointing  to  the  ground.  A  massive  brow, 
large,  expressive  eyes  that  have  a  look  of  sadness  in  them,  as 
if  still  seeing  the  terrors  of  the  Inferno; — and  so  penetrat- 
ing,— as  if  they  would  pierce  you  through  and  through;  thin, 
sunken  cheeks  like  those  of  a  student,  and  a  firm  refined 
mouth,  a  face  expressive  of  soul  and  intellect,  in  which  the 
fires  of  passion  are  quenched,  aud  the  angel  of  purity  has  set 
his  mark. 


272       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 


History  on  Canvas. 


A  striking  picture  is  "Charles  I.  leaving  Westminister 
Hall,  after  his  trial."  He  is  passing  through  the  street,  fol- 
lowed by  a  guard;  a  fine  looking  man,  but  his  face  is  deathly 
pale  and  careworn.  As  he  passes  a  corner,  a  handsome, 
richly-dressed  royalist  looks  upon  him  with  the  utmost  pity, 
and  bows  with  reverent  air;  while,  on  the  other  side,  the 
rabble  amongst  which  are  blacksmiths  with  pincers  in  hand 
fresh  from  the  forges,  taunt  and  revile  him  as  he  passes. 

The  "Landing  of  the  Puritans"  is  a  fine  Spanish  picture, 
full  of  interest.  The  minister  and  his  little  flock  are  engaged 
in  prayer.  He  holds  the  Bible,  with  hands  upraised,  while 
some  of  them  are  kneeling,  some  prostrate,  and  all  devout. 
In  the  background  are  seen  the  sea  and  ship. 

"  The  Eve  of  Battle  "  represents  Joan  of  Arc,  the  peasant 
girl  of  France,  dressed  in  military  accoutrements,  bearing 
the  national  standard,  and  leading  a  procession  of  priests, 
who  are  conducting  a  religious  ceremony.  As  she  passes,  the 
bowmen,  on  each  side,  bow  and  kneel,  and  hail  her  as  their 
victorious  leader. 

The  "  Landing  of  Columbus "  is  a  fine  Spanish  painting, 
representing  the  great  discoverer,  wrinkled  and  careworn, 


HISTORY  ON  CANVAS.  273 

with  flowing  white  hair,  holding  in  one  hand  the  standard  of 
Spain;  the  other,  holding  his  sword  on  the  neck  of  a  pros- 
trate savage.  A  priest  bears  the  crucifix,  and  the  savages 
look  with  wonder,  and  the  men  with  reverent  awe.  The  ship 
and  sea  are  in  the  background. 

An  English  picture,  "  The  Night  before  Bosworth,"  rep- 
resents Richard  III.  in  his  dream,  the  night  before  the  battle 
of  Bosworth.  He  is  sleeping  in  his  bed-chamber,  his  hands 
clutching  the  sheets,  his  face  upturned,  and  his  mouth  open, 
as  the  terrible  visions  flit  through  his  mind.  On  the  floor 
lie  his  sword,  armor  and  jewels. 

"  The  fall  of  Rienzi,  the  last  Roman  Tribune,"  is  a  large 
English  picture.  Rienzi,  finding  the  people  clamorous  for 
his  death,  is  attempting  to  escape  from  the  capitol,  by  throw- 
ing a  robe  over  him;  but  a  fierce  soldier,  with  lowering  brow, 
and  dagger  in  hand,  has  snatched  the  robe  from  his  head, 
and  he  is  discovered.  A  toothless  hag  is  shouting  an  alarm, 
for  the  populace  to  gather  at  the  scene. 

No  language  can  depict  the  horrors  of  war,  as  is  done  by 
a  picture,  entitled  "  Caesar,"  in  a  few  square  yards  of  canvas; 
no  moralist  can  so  illustrate  the  inherent  wickedness  of  a 
selfish  ambition.  Caesar  is  shown  riding  on  a  spirited  charger, 
his  face  is  fine  and  intellectual,  but  cold  and  stern, — his  eye 
intently  fixed  on  a  globe,  which  he  holds  before  him.  On  his 
brow  is  the  conqueror's  wreath,  and  he  is  preceded  by  two 


274  BEIf  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION". 

shrouded  figures,  mowing  all  down  before  them.  One  of  his 
horses  hoofs,  is  crushing  the  body  of  a  beautiful  female,  who 
lies  prostrate  on  the  the  ground,  powerless  to  rise.  Before 
his  horses  feet,  and  about  to  be  trampled  on,  are  several  pros- 
trate figures, — one  a  man  with  face  full  of  energy,  with  head 
upraised,  and  looking  at  the  conqueror  with  the  utmost  hate 
and  fury ;  while  another  with  clenched  hands,  and  mouth  open, 
is  expiring  in  agony.  Before  him  an  affrighted  mother  is 
fleeing,  her  face  white  with  terror.  She  holds  her  lovely,  but 
terrified  infant,  and  grasps  a  broken  column,  to  support  her 
sinking  body.  On  the  steps  she  is  about  to  ascend,  lies  a 
sickening  pool  of  blood.  The  broken  column  lies  on  the 
ground,  a  blighted  tree  is  shaken  by  the  blast  of  war,  the 
horrid  night  birds  are  abroad,  while  in  the  distance  the  hori- 
zon is  reddened  by  the  devouring  conflagration  of  falling  cit- 
ies. Above  flying  through  the  air,  is  the  goddess  of  war  and 
desolation,  with  flashing  eyes,  and  open  mouth,  her  black 
hair  and  robes  streaming  behind  her,  holding  a  drawn  sword 
in  her  right  hand  extended  forward,  and  in  her  left,  behind 
her,  a  torch  of  flames.  Behind,  the  sky  is  lurid  with  burning 
cities  and  palaces.  To  all  this,  the  conqueror  is  heedless, — 
his  eye  is  fixed  on  the  globe  before  him — his  ears  are  stopped, 
and  his  heart  closed  by  the  vaulting  devil  of  ambition,  which 
has  taken  possession  of  his  soul.  This  is  the  history  of  the 
grim  past,  epitomized. 


PENCILING3  OF  THE  ANTIQUE.  275 


Pencilings  of  the  Antique. 


A  striking  picture  is  "Circe  and  the  companions  of  Ulysses," 
in  which  Circe  is  represented  as  a  fair,  golden  haired  maiden, 
watching  the  herd  of  disgusting  swine,  into  which  she  had 
changed  the  followers  of  Ulysses  by  her  magic  potions.  She 
is  arrayed  in  a  white  robe,  and  is  seated  on  an  elevation,  which 
the  angry  swine  attempt  in  vain  to  reach.  Another  picture 
based  on  mythological  lore,  is  "Ulysses  and  the  Sirens."  The 
vessel  of  Ulysses  is  passing  the  island  on  which  the  Sirens 
dwelt ;  and  to  guard  himself  from  their  melodious  voices,  he 
had  stopped  the  ears  of  his  men  with  wax,  and  bound  him- 
self to  the  mast,  and  ordered  his  men  to  give  no  heed  to  his 
commands  until  they  had  passed  the  enchanting  isle.  The 
beautiful  Sirens,  with  harp  and  timbrel  beckon  him  to  come, 
but  the  vessel  keeps  on  her  way  unturned. 

The  "Chariot  Race"  recalls  the  mad  excitement  of  the 
Roman  races.  The  immense  amphitheatre  is  crowded,  and 
two  swarthy  bareheaded  charioteers  are  madly  urging  their 
foaming  steeds  to  their  utmost  speed.  Each  is  driving  four 
beasts,  and  the  race  is  evenly  balanced-  The  excitement  of 


276  BEN   BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION. 

the  horses,  drivers  and  populace,  is  expressed  in  an  astonish- 
ing manner. 

One  of  the  most  wonderful  works  of  art,  is  a  table  top  in  mo- 
saic, from  Florence,  which  has  inlaid  in  it  seventeen  thousand 
different  pieces  of  marble,  and  which  required  three  men  seven 
years  to  make.  The  design  is  music,  musical  instruments, 
scientific  and  other  apparatus,  flowers,  etc.,  and  every  part, 
even  to  every  note  of  music,  is  a  separate  piece  of  marble. 
This  is  priced  at  $10,000. 

A  remarkable  picture  is  the  "Death  of  Caesar."  He  has 
fallen;  the  fatal  stroke  has  been  given,  and  his  blood  stains  his 
robe,  and  the  rich  pavement.  His  eyes  are  already  glazing, 
in  death,  but  as  Brutus  comes  up,  he  looks  reproachfully  at 
him.  A  citizen  is  hastening  away  covering  his  face,  and  another 
throwing  up  his  hands  in  horror. 


Famous  Masters. 


By  famous  masters,  we  do  not  mean  old  masters,  but  those 
whose  works  are  here,  and  who  have  a  worldwide  fame.  The 
most  remarkable  is  "  Christ,"  painted  by  Murillo,  and  is  the 
scene  of  the  crucifixion.  Christ  is  hanging  on  the  cross, 


FAMOUS  MASTERS.  277 

thick  darkness  about  him,  the  body  white  and  ghastly  in 
the  gloom,the  hair  matted,  the  crown  of  thorns  pressed  down 
on  the  bleeding  brow,  the  face  in  the  shadow  —  altogether, 
a  wonderfully  vivid  and  impressive  picture. 

The  "Crucifixion,"  by  Vandyke,  is  also  marvelous.  The 
head  leans,  as  if  he  were  writhing  in  unutterable  torture,  the 
face  is  pallid  from  exhaustion,  the  eyes  shrouded  with  shad- 
ows, and  have  a  piteous,  agonized,  yet  patient  look,  that 
thrills  one  to  the  heart:  the  mouth  is  open,  as  if  gasping  in 
agony;  the  blood  streams  from  the  nail  wounds,  and  the 
expression  of  suffering  is  wonderful. 

Landseer  is  represented  by  &  picture  of  a  lion,  which  shows 
that  his  fame  is  well  earned,  as  one  of  the  greatest  painters  of 
animals,  of  any  period. 

Turner,  the  great  marine  painter,  is  represented  by  a  view 
of  a  castle  in  Wales;  but  it  does  not  realize  one's  expecta- 
tions, when  the  fame  of  the  artist  is  considered. 

Queen  Victoria  lent  a  large  painting  by  Benjamin  West, 
"  The  Death  of  Gren.  Wolfe,1'  which  is  a  grand  representation 
of  that  tragic  event. 

There  is  a  portrait  of  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  by  himself, 
which  does  not  impress  most  people  as  particularly  fine,  and 
several  portraits  by  Sir  Peter  Lely,  are  not  what  would  be 
considered  good  to-day.  The  picture  of  a  peasant  girl,  by 


278      BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

Dubufe,  and  a  sheep's  head,  by  Rosa  Bonheur,  both  on  one 
canvass,  are  much  admired. 


Sermons  on  the  Wall. 


The  picture  from  the  Swedish  gallery,  "  The  Five  Foolish 
Virgins  at  the  locked  Door,"  is  a  good  text.  The  beautiful 
maidens  are  robed  in  rich  attire,  and  bear  lamps,  which,  ex- 
cept two,  have  gone  out.  One  is  kneeling  before  the  locked 
door  with  uplifted  arms,  imploring  an  entrance;  another  is 
crouching  to  the  earth  in  despair.  One  of  dark  and  stately 
beauty  stands  erect,  her  face  defiant,  and  flashing  with  indig- 
nation, while  another  with  golden  hair  and  faultless  features, 
is  pressing  forward,  as  if  there  was  yet  hope.  Another  is 
already  indifferent  and  has  turned  away.  We  can  almost 
imagine  their  ringing  cry, — 

No  light!  so  late!  and  dark  and  chill  the  night; 
Oh,  let  us  in,  that  we  may  find  the  light! 
Have  we  not  heard  the  Bridegroom  is  so  sweet? 
Oh,  let  us  in,  that  we  may  kiss  his  feet ! 

And  then  the  mournful  response  from  within, 
Too  late!  Too  late!  Ye  can  not  enter  now. 

Like  a  blast  from  a  bugle,  "  Paul  at  Athens,"  rouses  one's 
enthusiasm,  at  the  thought  of  a  sublime  purpose,  and  conse- 
crated life.  His  mantle  is  tattered,  his  bare  feet  travel-stained, 


SERMONS  ON  THE  WALL.  279 

his  face  furrowed  by  dark  lines  of  care  and  suffering,  his 
sunken  eyes  framed  in  black  shadows,  his  hands  and  arms 
tanned  and  shrunken,  until  the  corded  muscles  and  blue  ar- 
teries, stand  out  from  the  wasted  flesh,  and  yet,  he  stands  be- 
fore the  proud  philosophers  of  Athens,  and  holds  them  awe- 
struck by  the  sublime  revelation, — "Whom  therefore  ye  ig- 
norantly  worship,  Him,  declare,  I  unto  you."  By  the  side  of 
this  noble  life,  how  pitifully  small  seem  our  lives,  and  the 
little  purposes  we  cherish,  how  contemptible. 

"  The  Anatomist,"  is  a  picture,  that  at  once  fastens  atten- 
tion. A  professor  with  a  fine  intellectual  face,  yet  stern  and 
cold,  is  sitting  in  his  easy  chair,  with  the  complacency  of  a 
man  who  has  had  an  eminently  successful  career.  Before 
him  lies  the  subject  for  dissection, — the  corpse  of  a  beautiful 
young  woman,  covered  by  a  sheet,  one  end  of  which  he  has 
raised,  exposing  the  silken  hair,  tangled,  and  matted  with 
filth,  and  the  delicate  features,  crowned  with  a  beauty  that 
death  could  not  destroy.  This  beauty,  triumphant  in  death, 
has  touched  a  chord  of  his  frozen  nature,  and  his  cold  eyes 
are  fixed  on  the  beautiful-  face  in  profound  abstraction,  as  if 
wondering — 

"  Who  was  her  father  ?    Who  was  her  Mother  ? 
"  Had  she  a  sister  ?    Had  she  a  brother  ? 
"  Or  was  there  a  dearer  one  still,  and  a  nearer  one 
"  Yet  than  all  other. " 


280  BEN   BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION". 

And  so  this  picture  preaches  a  sermon  on  the  frailties  of 
human  nature,  and  the  need  of  Christian  charity. 

"Early  Affliction"  is  a  most  exquisite  picture  of  a  peasant  girl, 
traveling  with  bundle  under  her  arm,  who  has  left  the  vil- 
lage back  in  the  distance,  and  is  starting  out  among  the  pit- 
falls of  the  cruel  world,  to  make  her  way  as  best  she  can. 
She  has  a  face  of  angelic  sweetness,  her  eyes  show  traces  of 
tears,  and  she  looks  with  open  mouth  and  clasped  hands,  as  if 
startled  in  the  gathering  darkness,  and  wondering  what  was 
before  her.  Not  many  can  see  it,  without  moistened  eyes 
and  softened  heart,  and  the  tender  promise  will  be  recalled: 
"When  thy  father  and  thy  mother  forsake  thee,  then  the 
Lord  will  take  thee  up." 

An  expressive  picture  "  My  lady  is  a  widow  and  child- 
less," teaches  us  that  "  every  heart  hath  its  sorrows."  A 
laborer  returning  home,  is  met  in  the  field  by  his  wife 
and  baby,  and  has  thrown  down  his  spades,  and  caught 
up  the  crowing  child.  In  the  distance  is  a  grand  cas- 
tle and  park,  and  "my  lady"  dressed  in  black,  and  book  in 
hand,  is  wandering  listlessly  down  the  gravelled  walk,  her 
beautiful  face  showing  almost  an  envious  expression,  as  she 
stands  and  watches  the  happy  group,  and  is  reminded  of  her 
own  loneliness. 

"  The  Family  Scene, "  a  Russian  picture,  shows  the 
divine  mission  of  sorrow,  to  soften  and  purify  the  heart. 


SERMONS  ON  THE  WALL  281 

A  mother  and  two  daughters  are  in  a  luxurious  sit- 
ting-room,— one  at  the  piano,  the  other,  a  feeble  invalid, 
sitting  in  an  easy  chair,  languid  and  weak.  You  can  almost 
hear  the  subdued  tones  of  the  piano,  as  the  soft  notes  are 
touched  to  divert  the  sufferer, — and  in  the  shadow  sits  the 
mother,  looking  at  the  invalid  with  an  expression  of  un- 
speakable love,  and  parental  solicitude. 

"Lost  and  found"  is  an  English  picture  of  the  prodigal 
son.  From  a  vine  covered  cottage,  in  the  midst  of  a  charm- 
ing English  landscape,  a  white  haired  old  man  rushes  out, 
followed  by  his  daughter,  to  meet  the  returned  prodigal,  who 
is  covered  with  rags,  and  has  thrown  himself  on  the  ground 
in  shame.  The  house-dog  is  bounding  against  him,  and 
licking  his  face.  The  aged  mother,  with  neat  white  cap,  and 
a  face  worn,  as  if  broken-hearted,  is  supported  to  the  door, 
while  the  prim  elder  brother,  looks  out  with  coldness  and  un- 
concern. 

"Young  Whittington"  is  also  an  English  picture,  aud  is  a 
lesson  of  hope  to  struggling  young  lives.  The  future  Lord 
Mayor  of  London,  is  represented  as  a  young  lad,  with  fair  open 
face,  without  a  cap,  with  stick  and  bundle  in  hand,  and  travel- 
ing in  the  gathering  darkness  towards  the  spires  of  London, 
seen  in  the  distance.  He  is  stopping  and  listening  with  open 
ears  and  mouth  to  the  great  bell,  and  counting  its  strokes  on 
his  fingers. 


282  BEN"   BEVEELT  AT  THE  GREAT   EXPOSITION". 

A  striking  picture  in  the  French  gallery,  is  entitled  "  Her- 
odias,"  and  represents  the  beheading  of  John  the  Baptist. 
This  martyrdom  was  one  of  those  tragic  events  which  art 
will  ever  sieze  upon  and  perpetuate.  Herodias  the  mur- 
deress, is  reclining  upon  a  couch  of  rich  tapestry,  but  has 
partly  raised  herself  up,  to  lift  up  the  head  of  the  Evangelist, 
which  lies  on  a  bloody  napkin  thrown  across  a  platter,  and 
has  just  been  brought  in  by  an  Ethiopian  slave.  The  artist 
has  painted  her  truly — a  fine  Roman  head  with  regular  fea- 
tures and  luxuriant  black  hair,  but  a  cruel  face,  which  even 
the  sight  of  the  glorious  head  of  the  martyred  saint,  with  its 
kind,  forgiving  expression,  and  weird  bloodless  face,  could  not 
soften.  Her  black  eyes  are  as  cold,  and  her  lips  as  pitiless, 
as  before  she  did  the  accursed  deed.  She  has  the  same 
stolid  satisfaction,  which  the  beast  of  prey  feels,  when 
watching  his  quivering  victim,  before  it  is  devoured.  Salome, 
perfect  in  form,  and  with  the  face  of  an  angel,  throws  back 
the  curtain  at  the  door,  as  if  afraid  to  enter,  and  is  looking 
almost  sadly  and  tenderly  at  the  bloody  sacrifice, — the  fearful 
price  of  her  folly  and  wickedness. 

The  "  Prayer  of  Judith,"  is  a  striking  picture,  and  repre- 
sents the  Jewish  heroine,  just  preparing  to  strike  the  fatal 
blow  at  the  tyrant  of  her  oppressed  race.  Her  magnificent 
figure,  wrapped  in  a  rich  velvet  robe,  is  thrown  back,  her  large 


PRAYER   OF   JUDITH.  283 

lustrous  dark  eyes  upturned,  and  her  rich  strong,  beau- 
tiful face,  is  lifted  up,  as  if  invoking  the  God  of  nations 
to  give  her  strength  to  execute  her  daring  purpose.  In 
her  left  hand  she  holds  a  jewelled  scimetar,  her  right 
upraised  in  invocation  to  heaven.  The  sleeping  form  of 
Holofernes  is  extended  on  a  couch,  covered  with  rich  tapestry, 
entirely  unmindful  of  his  danger.  The  surroundings  are 
suggestive  of  Oriental  splendor, — the  leopard  skin  on  the 
floor,  the  elaborate  ebony  carving,  the  costly  goblet  and 
elegant  tapestry,  all  suggest  the  royal  rank  of  the  tyrant. 
The  picture  teaches  a  lesson  of  heroic  resolution,  and  of  reli- 
ance on  Divine  help  in  times  of  emergency. 

"  Dark  Moments,"  is  a  vivid  representation  of  the  struggles 
of  genius.  A  handsome  young  artist  is  in  his  garret  studio, 
from  which  he  is  about  to  be  expelled.  His  face  is  buried  in 
his  hands  in  distress,  and  the  motherly  landlady  looks  at  him 
with  pity,  yet  is  resolute  in  her  design.  A  picture  is  on  the 
easel,  his  palette  and  brushes  are  on  the  floor,  the  room  is 
without  a  fire,  and  has  a  bare  and  proverty  stricken  appear- 
ance. 

A  most  beautiful  picture  is  "  Christ  Blessing  Little  Chil- 
dren," by  Benjamin  West.  The  Saviour  is  seated  with  a 
wondering  child  in  his  arms,  while  the  happy  mother  kneels 
before  him  radiant  with  joy.  Another  little  child  is  leaning 
lovingly  against  him,  while  a  third  is  peering  shyly  over  its 


284       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

shoulder.     Others  are  also  bringing  their  children,  while  the 
grave  disciples  look  reverently  at  the  baautiful  sight. 


A  Medley  of  Art  G-ems. 


In  the  British  gallery  is  a  picture  which  is  almost  startling 
in  its  strangeness,  and  which  arrests  the  eye  at  once,  by  its 
somber  shadows  and  deep  mysterious  meaning.  That  unfath- 
omable reverence  for  mystery,  which  is  inseparable  from  our 
existence,  and  whose  depths  no  plummet  e'er  has  sounded, 
here  finds  food  for  its  fancy;  and  we  turn  again  and  again  to 
the  strange  conception  of  the  artist,  which  awakens  to  new 
life  the  drooping  powers  of  the  imagination,  and  sends  them 
forth  to  make  fresh  discoveries  and  conquests  in  the  realm  of 
the  great  unknown.  The  picture  is  called  "Lenore,"  and  is 
founded  on  a  wild  German  legend,  something  like  this: 
Lenore,  a  beautiful  maiden,  has  a  lover  in  the  distant  wars. 
After  they  are  ended,  the  victorious  legions  come  back,  and 
march  with  waving  banners  and  joyous  measure  through  the 
glad  streets  of  their  nation's  capital.  Lenore  watches  the 
triumphal  procession  with  anxious  eyes  to  greet  the  return 
of  her  lover,  but  she  watches  and  waits  in  vain.  In  her  dis- 
appointment, she  becomes  heart-sick  and  melancholy;  and 
she  has  a  vision  in  which  she  imagines  that  her  betrothed 


A  MEDLEY  OF  ABT  GEMS.  285 

calls  for  her  at  the  dead  of  night,  mounted  on  his  war  horse, 
to  convey  her  that  very  night  to  their  nuptials,  a  hundred 
leagues  away.  He  takes  her  before  him  on  his  steed,  and  as 
they  swiftly  plunge  through  the  darkness,  they  pass  through 
the  most  ghastly  horrors.  The  artist  has  seized  this  wild 
legend,  and  made  it  the  subject  of  one  of  the  most  weird  pic- 
tures in  the  whole  collection  of  paintings.  It  is  a  night 
scene;  the  ominous  birds  of  darkness  are  flying  abroad.  A 
procession  is  led  by  a  weeping  angel,  and  followed  by  four  re- 
pulsive hags,  who  are  draped  in  shrouds,  and  bear  flaming 
torches,  which  throw  a  sickly,  ghastly  light  over  the  scene. 
Then  follows  the  warrior  on  his  gallant  charger,  his  hair 
streaming  in  the  wind,  his  eyes  distended  with  horror,  and 
bearing  the  maiden  on  his  saddle  before  him.  The  steed  is 
also  affrighted, — from  his  panting  nostrils  issues  the  fierce  blast 
of  his  hot  breath, — his  eyes  are  flashing  with  terror,  for  at 
his  side  a  furious  surf  is  dashing,  as  if  to  engulf  them,  and 
struggling  in  the  frightful  flood,  are  four  beautiful  females, 
one  of  whom,  half  prostrate, — her  golden  hair  falling  loosely 
beneath  her,  has  seized  the  bridle,  and  is  clinging  to  it 
with  the  clutch  of  despair.  Another  with  her  long  black 
hair  streaming  behind  her  is  throwing  up  her  arms  be- 
seechingly toward  the  rider,  while  another  with  shroud  over 
her  head,  is  in  an  attitude  of  hopelessness.  Behind  the 
group  are  seen  a  procession  of  hooded  spectres,  while  away 


286        BEX  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

in  the  distance,  discerned  through  the  sickly  light,  the  dim 
outline  of  a  gigantic  figure  is  seen  approaching,  followed  by 
a  company  of  shadowy  human  shapes  just  discernable  in  the 
retreating  darkness.  This  strange  conception  is  expressed  on 
the  canvas  with  wonderful  power,  and  gives  to  the  picture  a 
weird  fascination. 

"  Memory  "  is  a  statue  in  granite,  of  a  female  figure  at  the 
time  of  life  in  which  the  blush  of  youthful  loveliness  merges 
into  the  calm  repose  of  mature  beauty.  She  holds  a  wreath 
of  flowers  which  it  may  be  supposed  represents  all  the  bright 
hued  freshness  and  fragrance  of  the  present;  but  from  this, 
she  has  turned  her  eyes,  and  her  thoughts  ramble  listlessly 
back,  down  the  dim  vista  of  the  past. 

Vandyke  was  a  fortunate  artist,  in  living  at  the  time  of  the 
cavaliers,  in  a  romantic  and  chivalrous  age,  when  costumes 
were  rich  and  imposing  in  the  extreme,  and  personal  beauty 
was  the  supreme  test  of  popular  favor.  For  instance,  com- 
pare our  modern  costume  in  point  of  display,  with  that 
which  appears  in  this  portrait  by  Vandyke,  of  Owen  Abbott, 
whose  chief  claim  to  immortality  seems  to  consist  in  the  fact 
that  he  was  deputed  to  conduct  George  the  First  to  his  throne. 
The  picture  shows  a  full,  handsome,  cheery,  fresh  face,  set  in 
a  flowing  wig,  like  a  beautiful  picture  in  a  silver  casing,  a 
graceful  and  well-proportioned  figure  set  off  by  a  red  velvet 
cloak,  which  gives  as  much  life  to  the  picture,  as  the  same  rich 


MEMORY. 


A  MEDLEY  OF  AKT  GEMS.  289 

tints  to  a  tulip.  The  attitude  is  fine,  the  mien  courtly  and 
dignified,  and  the  portrait  is  probably  one  of  the  best  efforts 
of  the  artist,  and  reveals  to  us  something  of  the  splendor  of 
personal  adornment  in  that  period  of  English  history. 

At  the  Centennial  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Concord,  a 
statue  was  erected  at  Concord,  Massachusetts,  called  "  The 
Minute  Man  of  1775. "  Here  is  the  model  from  which  the 
bronze  statue  was  cast,  which  is  well  worthy  of  careful  study. 
There  is  a  sense  of  strength  and  vigor  about  this,  that  almost 
inspires  one  with  heroic  purpose.  There  is  a  dash, —  a  de- 
termination about  it,  that  makes  one  feel  that  the  minute 
man  was  not  a'  machine  for  parade,  but  a  hero  from  prin- 
ciple. It  represents  a  young  man,  with  fine  face,  but  scowl- 
ing, as  if  some  unprovoked  outrage  had  been  committed,  and 
none  but  he  could  settle  the  difficulty.  His  left  hand  rests 
on  the  plough,  which  he  is  just  leaving  like  Cincinattus  of 
old,  while  in  his  right,  he  grasps  his  old  flint  musket, — his 
powder  horn  slung  behind  him.  He  has  thrown  his  coat 
across  the  plough  out  of  the  way,  his  collar  is  thrown  back, 
and  his  sleeves  are  rolled  up,  showing  the  powerful  muscles 
of  his  strong  arms.  His  long  hair  is  thrown  back,  and  the 
side  of  his  hat  is  turned  up,  and  he  seems  the  very  impersona- 
tion of  fearlessness,  guided  by  a  sublime  purpose.  It  is  the 
work  of  D.  C.  French,  an  American  artist,  and  is  deservedly 
a  recognized  acquisition  to  American  art. 


BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

In  the  French  department  is  a  life  size  bronze  statue  which 
at  once  attracts  notice.  It  is  called  "  The  Priestess  of  Isis," 
which  was  one  of  the  principal  Egyptian  divinities.  There 
is  something  so  striking  about  this,  that  it  carries  the  mind 
back  without  difficulty,  thousands  of  years  to  the  remote 
civilization  of  Egypt.  The  face  is  of  the  Egyptian  type, — 
flat  nose,  thick  lips,  and  a  low  forehead,  but  yet  is  pleasing 
and  impressive.  The  upper  part  of  the  body  is  naked,  except 
a  head-dress,  rich  and  showy,  and  heavy  bracelets  on  arms  and 
wrists.  Around  the  waist  is  a  loose  skirt,  beneath  which  are 
seen  the  sandals  and  anklets.  Before  her  stands  a  harp,  with 
frame  of  bright  variegated  colors,  on  which  she  is  playing; 
but  she  leans  forward  and  looks  intently  as  if  spell-bound  by 
some  revelation  in  the  distance. 

Here  we  see  the  "Death  of  Abel,"  in  which  the  artist  has 
pictured  the  scene  of  earth's  first  tragedy.  The  body  of  the 
murdered  Abel  lies  on  the  ground, — a  sickening  pool  of  blood 
oozing  from  his  head.  Adam,  full  bearded  and  of  strong 
vigorous  frame,  bends  over  it,  with  head  bent  down  as  if  in 
shame  and  grief.  His  hands  are  clenched  as  if  in  agony,  until 
the  veins  seem  ready  to  burst.  Beautiful  Eve  by  his  side 
leans  one  arm  against  him,  as  if  for  consolation  and  support, 
and  with  the  other  hides  her  face,  and  shuts  the  horrid  spec- 
tacle from  her  eyes.  Her  head  is  bowed  to  the  earth,  as  if 
ready  to  sink  under  the  weight  of  her  affliction,  and  her 


A  MEDLEY  OF  AJBT  GEMS.  291 

long  golden  hair  falls  to  the  ground  as  if  to  complete  the 
picture  of  despair. 

A  picture  in  the  United  States  gallery  called  "The  Boston 
boys  and  General  Gage,"  illustrates  a  favorite  story  with  boys, 
and  the  subject  is  capitally  handled.  A  delegation  of  boys 
have  called  at  the  quarters  of  General  Gage  to  relate  their 
grievances.  He  has  come  to  the  door  to  hear  their  story,  and 
stands  good-naturedly  in  his  military  suit  of  red  coat  and 
yellow  vest  and  breeches,  two  of  his  aids  looking  curiously 
on,  while  a  mischievous  negro  boy  looks  slyly  out  of  the 
window,  his  face  in  a  broad  grin.  The  boys,  dressed  in 
gayly  colored  coats,  have  hats  off,  except  one  little  fellow 
who  is  perfectly  indifferent  to  the  presence  of  rank,  and 
stands  holding  his  sled,  entirely  unconcerned.  The  spokes- 
man of  the  party,  a  handsome  boy,  is  relating  their  wrongs, 
with  hat  in  hand  and  skates  strapped  on  his  side,  while  a 
venerable  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  stands  back  al- 
most shocked  by  the  proceeding,  and  wondering  what  it  will 
come  to.  He  feels  some  uneasiness  about  it — perhaps  he  has 
a  grandson  in  the  crowd,  and  he  wants  to  see  how  it 
will  end.  A  negro  nurse  with  baby  is  gazing  very  in- 
tently, and  picks  up  what  information  she  can.  At  a 
short  distance  a  little  scamp  is  climbing  the  lamp-post,  to 
the  hoiTor  of  the  soldier  on  guard  who  hastens  to  drive  him 
off:  while  another  sentinel  is  turning  his  head  back  to  see  a 


292        BEN  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

very  pretty  young  lady  who  is  crossing  the  streets,  and 
coquettishly  holding  up  her  skirts. 

We  next  notice  a  picture  called  "The  Vanquished,"  which 
is  a  scene  in  a  Roman  Palace.  The  majestic  columns,  costly 
marble  pavement,  bronze  statues,  and  walls  ornamented  with 
designs  of  different  colors,  indicate  an  abode  of  luxurious 
elegance. 

The  vanquished  gladiator  stands  leaning  against  a  column, 
a  man  of  magnificent  physique,  whose  muscles  are  like  thews  of 
steel,  but  a  face  lowering  with  the  rage  and  indignation  of 
defeat.  His  black  shaggy  hair  and  beard,  his  lowering  brow, 
his  piercing  black  eyes  that  might  belong  to  a  beast  of  prey, 
his  hand  clutching  his  hair,  as  if  he  would  tear  it  out  by  the 
roots,  are  all  ablaze  with  the  vexation  of  his  turbulent  spirit. 
His  dog  stands  near,  with  head  leaning  against  him  as  if  he 
had  a  human  sympathy.  A  beautiful  woman  with  auburn 
hair  and  sweet,  noble  countenance,  has  clasped  his  arm,  en- 
deavoring to  appease  his  anger  and  soothe  his  disappoint- 
ment, but  apparently  has  failed  to  calm  the  stormy  nature  of 
the  man  of  violence. 

We  will  next  notice  a  picture  in  the  Belgium  gallery 
called  "Dante  and  the  Young  Girls  of  Florence.1'  The  great 
poet  is  represented  as  sitting  at  the  foot  of  a  stairway;  wearied 
and  spent  by  continual  thought,  his  head  leans  on  the  rail, 
and  he  has  fallen  asleep,  with  his  book  lying  before  him,  and 


A  MEDLEY  OF  ART  GEMS.  293 

his  arm  across  his  breast,  while  three  fair  maidens  with  gol- 
den hair  are  lingering  near  him,  as  if  doubtful  whether  to 
break  his  slumbers  or  to  leave  him  undisturbed.  The  pure, 
blonde  beauty  of  the  maidens,  in  their  rich  attire  of  satin  and 
figured  silk,  the  red,  flowing  robe  of  the  poet,  the  fine  profile 
of  his  intellectual  face,  sad  and  musing  in  slumber,  as  if  un- 
able to  forget  the  revelations  of  the  "Inferno,"  all  form  a  pic- 
ture of  great  attractiveness  to  the  intellectual  observer. 

But  we  turn  to  a  strange  picture,  entitled  "  Sheikh  Salah 
Dead  in  his  Tent,"  which  has  a  weird  and  ghastly  appear- 
ance, and  yet  is  invested  with  a  strange  fascination.  The 
fallen  chief  is  lying  on  the  floor,  on  rich  tapestry,  and  a 
lion's  skin,  the  lower  part  of  his  body  covered  with  a  white 
robe, — his  musket  and  pistols  by  his  side,  and  his  turban  on 
his  head.  His  features  are  of  the  strongest  Arab  type, — 
dark  sunken  eyes,  thick  lips,  and  a  thin  straggling  black 
beard  and  mustache.  A  lamp  at  the  feet  of  the  corpse,  casts 
a  ghastly  light  over  the  scene,  but  discloses  a  group  of 
mourners,  probably  his  wives,  who  are  sitting  over  the  dead 
body,  shrouded  in  white  hoods,  through  which  their  faces  are 
visible.  One  covers  her  face  with  both  hands,  as  if  to  shut 
out  the  mournful  sight;  another,  a  young  and  beautiful 
face,  gazes  with  an  intensely  sad  expression  from  her  large 
dark  eyes,  and  sits  with  clasped  hands  as  if  uncontrollable  in 
her  grief;  while  an  older  woman,  further  back,  looks  on  with 


294:  BEN  BEVEKLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

apparent  composure,  and  accepts  the  affliction  with   philo- 
sophical resignation. 

A  picture  in  the  United  States  gallery,  called  "  Christians 
in  the  Dungeon  of  the  Coliseum, "  is  a  reminder  of  the  dark 
reign  of  blood  and  superstition  which  sought  to  crush  the 
infant  Christian  church,  and  which  brought  to  martyr- 
dom many  glorious  souls,  of  which  the  world  was  not  worthy. 
The  scene  is  in  a  dungeon,  separated  from  the  Coliseum 
by  an  iron  wicket  gate,  in  which  are  a  group  of  Chris- 
tian captives  awaiting  their  doom.  In  the  foreground  a 
maiden  with  long,  sunny  hair  and  beautiful  face,  stands 
with  supplicating  face  upraised  to  heaven  in  prayer, — her 
left  arm  covering  her  naked  breasts,  and  her  right  clasping 
the  hand  of  her  husband,  or  lover,  who  is  seated  by  her,  his 
head  downcast,  as  if  sinking  under  the  burden  of  utter  hope- 
lessness. A  Roman  soldier  in  armor  of  mail,  and  with  hel- 
met and  spear,  has  rudely  grasped  her,  and  is  pointing  to  the 
terrible  scene  in  the  arena,  thus  reminding  them  of  their 
fate.  To  the  right  a  young  man  and  woman  are  seated 
closely  together  with  crucifix  in  hand,  while  near  them  sit 
an  aged  man  and  wife,  with  white  hair  and  venerable 
aspect, — the  aged  mother  supporting  the  head  of  her  daugh- 
ter; while  near  a  younger  mother  4is  fainting  under  the  ter- 
rible trial,  and  falling  unconsciously  to  the  floor,  where  her 
beautiful  infant  is  innocently  playing. 


A  MEDLEY  OF  AET  GEMS.  295 

Through  the  open  door,  the  arena  is  seen,  gallery  above 
gallery,  crowded  with  cruel  spectators.  In  the  arena  a  fierce 
Numidian  lion  of  massive  form,  and  shaggy  mane,  has 
sprung  upon  a  Christian  martyr,  and  buried  his  cruel  claws 
in  his  flesh, — the  blood  streaming  down,  while  the  poor  mar- 
tyr in  his  agony,  is  supporting  himself  by  clinging  to  the  side 
of  the  arena.  The  blood-thirsty  multitude  are  wild  with  ex- 
citement, and  are  bending  forward,  anxious  to  glut  their  eyes 
by  a  feast  of  blood. 

In  the  United  States  gallery  is  a  beautiful  picture  called 
"  Canada  Otter,11  by  Audubon,  the  celebrated  naturalist.  A 
fine  otter  is  descending  on  a  log  to  a  stream.  His  mouth  is 
open,  and  he  shows  his  teeth  as  if  he  were  expecting  an  at- 
tack from  some  unknown  quarter.  The  exquisite  coloring 
and  shading  of  the  fur,  the  strikingly  natural  position  of  the 
animal,  and  the  tints  of  the  foliage  filling  the  background, 
are  as  true  to  Nature  as  might  be  expected  from  an  artist 
who  held  communion  with  her  in  her  great  solitudes  for 
years. 

A  most  suggestive  picture  is  "  The  Pilgrim's  Sunday  Morn- 
ing, "  in  the  LI.  S.  gallery.  A  company  of  pilgrims  are  plod- 
ding through  the  snow  on  their  way  to  the  log  church  seen 
in  the  distance.  The  two  stalwart  leaders,  dressed  with  peak- 
ed hats,  wide  white  collars,  belts  and  leggins,  march  with 
their  trusty  rifles  in  one  hand,  and  their  bibles  in  the  other. 


296       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

They  are  followed  by  the  saintly  looking  old  minister,  and 
his  sweet  faced  daughter,  while  following  are  young  mothers 
with  infants  in  arms,  old  women  tottering  with  the  weight 
of  years,  and  the  bright  happy  faces  of  children, — the  little 
band  being  protected  in  the  rear  by  the  valiant  fathers  and 
husbands,  who  are  thoroughly  armed,  ready  for  any  emergen- 
cy. The  landscape  has  a  most  desolate,  forbidding  look,  and 
it  is  apparently  one  of  those  clear  cold  mornings  so  common 
in  the  rigorous  Northern  winters.  Would  that  every  effemin- 
ate and  unworthy  descendant  of  such  noble  ancestery  could 
see  this  expressive  scene,  and  drink  in  the  lesson  of  self-denial 
and  devotion  to  duty  which  it  suggests.  It  is  a  fit  rebuke  to 
our  luxury  loving  age  and  people,  when  the  noble  discipline 
of  self-sacrifice  seems  almost  sometimes  well  nigh  a  remem- 
brance of  the  past. 

Some  of  the  most  remarkable  works  of  art  are  pictures  in 
mosaic  in  the  Italian  department.  Here  is  a  picture  nearly 
six  feet  in  width  and  about  two  feet  high,  which  at  a  distance 
looks  like  an  oil  painting,  so  smooth  and  fresh  seem  the  col- 
ors, but  what  is  our  astonishment  when  we  look  closely,  to 
perceive  that  this  elaborate  scene  with  all  its  diversity  of  col- 
oring and  design  is  made  up  of  differently  colored  pieces  of 
stone,  each  scarcely  larger  than  a  pin  head,  and  so  wonder- 
fully set  together  as  to  produce  this  pleasing  effect.  The  scene 
is  an  Italian  landscape  and  represents  the  ruins  of  the  Tern- 


A  MEDLEY  OF  AKT  GEMS.  297 

pie  of  Pgestum,  near  Naples.  The  sky  is  blue  and  soft,  and 
the  outlines  of  the  mountains  in  the  distance  are  mellowed 
by  the  hazy  atmosphere.  In  the  foreground  are  the  ruins  of 
the  massive  temple,  its  roof  nearly  fallen  to  decay,  but  some 
of  its  majestic  columns  still  standing,  the  stately  monuments 
of  its  former  glory;  while  fragments  of  others  covered  with 
rich  carvings,  are  scattered  around  in  indiscriminate  confu- 
sion. Near  it,  is  a  pool  whose  placid  surface  reflects  the  hues 
of  the  rich  sunlight,  and  a  group  of  cattle  are  cooling  them- 
selves in  its  refreshing  waters,  while,  not  far  distant  are  two 
shepherds  in  the  picturesque  costume  of  the  country,  attended 
by  their  faithful  dog.  On  the  right  is  an  extended  plain, 
across  which  a  horseman  is  furiously  galloping  towards  the 
beautiful  city  of  Naples  in  the  distance,  the  dim  outline  of 
whose  lofty  domes  and  imposing  edifices  bear  witness  to  its 
elegance  and  grandeur. 

When  we  consider  that  this  elaborate  picture  is  composed 
of  these  tiny  stones  joined  together  with  such  exquisite 
skill  and  infinite  patience  that  it  requires  a  close  inspection 
to  distinguish  the  joints  between  them,  no  wonder  we  are 
amazed  at  such  a  triumph  not  only  of  artistic  taste,  but  also 
of  tireless  perseverance. 

A  magnificent  picture,  "Marriage  of  the  Prince  of  Wales 
at  Windsor,  1863,"  lent  by  Queen  Victoria,  is  nearly  always 
surrounded  by  an  admiring  throng.  It  is  about  six  feet  square, 


298       BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GKEAT  EXPOSITION. 

and  although  it  represents  the  imposing  edifice,  as  it  was, 
filled  with  the  most  distinguished  and  noble  of  the  realm, 
dressed  in  the  most  elaborate  court  costume,  yet  in  that  sea 
of  faces  and  figures,  every  one  is  a  portrait,  finished  with  the 
utmost  delicacy  and  perfection.  It  has  an  accuracy  of  detail, 
and  such  an  exquisite  softness  and  clearness  of  finish,  as  to 
make  it  a  marvel  of  beauty. 

A  very  interesting  picture,  "Washing  the  Beggars  feet, 
on  Maundy-Thursday,"  is  a  very  striking  representation  of  an 
ancient  custom  which  required  the  nobility  on  that  day  to 
humble  themselves  by  this  menial  service.  The  beggars  are 
seated  in  a  row,  with  feet  bared,  and  they  are  a  study  truly. 
One  has  his  head  bound  up  with  a  white  cloth,  another  has 
a  bandage  over  the  left  eye,  one,  an  old  woman,  red-faced, 
blear-eyed  and  wrinkled,  sits  with  her  hands  clasped  in  peace- 
ful submission,  her  face  beaming  with  satisfaction  at  the  hu- 
miliation of  her  betters,  while  another,  an  old  man  with  a 
saintly  face  and  long,  venerable  white  locks,  sits  with  folded 
hands  and  meek  expression,  while  his  feet  are  being  washed 
by  the  noble  lord  who  stoops  over  him,  and  whose  handsome 
figure  is  covered  with  a  rich  figured  velvet  cloak  trimmed 
with  ermine.  Behind  the  nobleman  stands  his  wife,  a  beauti- 
ful lady  with  blue  eyes  and  golden  hair,  dressed  in  rich  furs, 
and  also  his  son,  a  handsome  boy  clad  in  elegantly  embroi- 
dered robes,  both  of  whom  are  witnessing  the  ceremony  with 
great  interest. 


A  MEDLEY  OF  ART  GEMS.  299 

Every  German  is  brought  to  a  halt  at  once,  at  seeing  a  very 
large  and  spirited  picture  representing  the  Crown  Prince  of 
Germany  and  his  staff  on  the  battle  field.  They  are  mounted 
and  galloping  abreast,  the  Prince  a  little  in  advance,  and  as 
we  look,  we  can  almost  fancy  that  the  noble  steeds  are  bound- 
ing towards  us,  and  that  we  can  hear  the  clatter  of  their 
hoofs.  The  figures  are  wonderfully  life-like,  and  the  picture 
is  one  of  the  most  spirited  and  animated  in  the  collection. 

In  the  British  gallery  is  an  admirable  portrait  of  Lady 
Marianne  Alford,  lent  by  the  Earl  of  Brownlow,  which  rep- 
resents a  lady  of  surpassing  loveliness.  We  see  a  magnifi- 
cent full  length  figure,  life  size, — a  face  so  fair  and  fresh  that 
it  would  seem  to  be  the  chosen  home  of  health,  happiness 
and  purity;  and  when  we  notice  the  queenly  poise  of  the  head, 
the  exquisitely  moulded  hands  and  arms,  and  the  expression, 
combining  native  dignity  and  charming  simplicity,  we  can- 
not but  admire  the  rare  taste  and  wondrous  skill  of  the  artist 
in  thus  transmitting  to  canvas,  some  of  those  subtle  and 
delicate  graces  which  are  the  crowning  excellency  of  glorious 
womanhood,  and  which  language  is  too  gross  and  unwieldly 
to  describe. 

In  the  German  gallery  are  two  large  paintings  which  illus- 
trate that  wonderful  conception  of  genius — that  immortal 
production  of  one  of  the  world's  great  master  minds, — Faust. 
The  first  is  entitled  "Marguerite"  and  represents  the  pure  and 


300  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

confiding  maiden  bending  in  a  transport  of  delight  over  the 
rich  case  of  jewels  which  Faust  has  presented  her.  Guileless 
of  evil,  she  is  unaware  that  the  costly  gift,  given  to  excite 
her  vanity,  is  but  the  first  step  of  that  downward  path  which 
ends  in  her  ruin.  As  she  stands  there,  holding  the  gems  be- 
fore her  in  rapt  admiration,  her  fair  face  radiant  with  wonder 
and  grateful  joy, — draped  in  her  neat-fitting  kirtle,  her  silken 
auburn  hair  confined  by  a  simple  cord, — she  seems  a  perfect 
type  of  maidenly  modesty,  innocence  and  simplicity. 

The  other  picture  is  "Marguerite  in  Prison,"  and  represents 
her  in  a  loathsome  dungeon  sitting  on  a  bundle  of  straw, 
chained  to  the  floor,  but  holding  up  the  chain  and  looking  at 
it  with  triumphant  rapture,  as  if  through  the  clanking  of 
those  cruel  fetters,  and  the  solitude  of  that  dreary  cell,  she 
had  found  the  sweet  consolations  of  penitence.  Near  her 
stands  Faust,  his  face  buried  in  his  hands,  as  if  in  unutterable 
anguish,  while  back  in  the  gloom  is  the  fiend  Mephisto, 
dressed  in  flaming  red,  with  horns  protruding,  holding  a  dim 
lantern,  and  looking  on  the  scene  before  him  with  a  horrible 
smile  of  exultation. 

One  might  study  for  hours  a  picture  in  the  British  gallery 
called  "Applicants  for  admission  to  a  Casual  Ward,"  which 
presents  in  the  most  eloquent  manner  the  piteous  destitution 
among  the  poor  in  London.  It  represents  the  exterior  of  a 
police  station  on  a  cold  winter's  morning,  the  ground  covered 


A  MEDLEY  OF  ART  GEMS.  301 

with  snow  and  the  air  filled  with  frost.  A  large  group  are 
waiting  for  admittance,  amongst  them  an  unfortunate  trades- 
man, who  stands  with  clasped  hands  and  bent  form  shivering 
with  the  cold,  and  near  him  a  respectable  looking  widow  well 
dressed  with  the  remains  of  her  once  ample  wardrobe,  with 
a  child  in  her  arms,  and  her  little  son  standing  beside  her  cry- 
ing bitterly  with  the  cold.  Several  inveterate  topers  and 
vagrants  with  hardened  and  bloated  faces,  and  rendered  in- 
sensible to  the  stinging  cold  by  their  vile  potations,  lean 
against  the  wall  in  a  half  drunken  stupor,  and  are  dozing 
away  the  weary  moments;  while  near  them  stands  a  laboring 
man  with  an  honest,  resolute  face,  as  if  determined  to  bear 
up  under  his  adversity,  and  holding  his  sleeping  child, — his 
wife  weeping  by  his  side  as  if  completely  discouraged,  and 
their  three  little  children  clinging  to  them  for  shelter  and 
protection.  In  the  outskirts  of  the  group  are  several  gaunt, 
ragged  beggars  who  accept  the  situation  as  a  matter  of  course, 
and  as  a  part  of  their  common  experience.  No  one  can  give 
this  a  careful  study,  without  having  the  sympathies  of  his 
better  nature  aroused  to  genuine  pity  for  the  poor  victims  of 
misfortune,  who,  alas,  are  too  often  forgotten  in  their  times 
of  extremity.  And  so  may  this  dumb,  but  yet  eloquent  can- 
vas, become  a  powerful  advocate  to  melt  the  hearts,  and 
move  the  sympathies  of  multitudes  in  the  cause  of  sweet 
charity. 


302        BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

But  here  is  a  picture  so  suggestive,  that  it  commands  our 
attention  at  once,  and  appeals  with  mute  eloquence  to  the 
feelings  of  our  better  nature.  It  is  called  "The  Tramp,"  and 
represents  a  middle-aged  man  in  the  glory  of  mature  man- 
hood, if  computed  by  years,  but  in  the  shadows  of  old  age, 
when  measured  by  circumstances.  Nature  had  endowed  him 
with  an  honest  face,  which  in  better  days  must  have  been 
fine-looking,  but  which  now  is  sadly  marred  by  privations 
and  despair.  The  eyes  have  become  the  firm  seat  of  despon- 
dency; the  face  is  no  longer  an  index  of  thought  and  pur- 
pose, but  it  is  abandoned  to  the  fixed  blank  of  hopelessness. 
His  spirit  has  succumbed  to  the  overwhelming  tide  of  mis- 
fortune, and  life  has  become  a  mechanical  nonentity.  He  is 
covered  by  the  ragged  remains  of  a  soldier's  uniform;  per- 
haps he  has  with  undaunted  heart,  endured  the  tedious 
marches  of  perilous  campaigns,  and  valiantly  faced  the  foe 
on  many  a  bloody  field,  but  now  his  courage  has  vanished, 
and  his  resolution  is  no  longer  spurred  by  the  memories  of 
the  past.  Poor,  homeless,  hopeless  wanderer,  the  type  of 
weary  thousands  in  our  midst, — may  the  sun  of  a  genial  pros- 
perity, and  the  sublime  purposes  of  a  resurrected  manhood 
soon  awake  again  to  new  melody,  the  long  silent  chords  of 
thy  sad,  desponding  heart. 

And  now  dear  reader,  after  visiting  with  me  the  numerous 
departments,  and  the  many  diversified  objects  of  interest  in 


A  MEDLEY  OF  ART  GEMS. 


303 


this  bewildering  array  of  world  treasures,  with,  the  hope  that 
the  remembrance  of  these  grand  sights  may  ever  be  a  store- 
house of  happy  and  joyous  memories,  we  will  separate;  but 
not  until  I  shall  have  placed  before  you,  as  a  fitting  close,  the 
more  conspicuous  and  elaborate  of  the  many  literary  tributes 
that  graced  the  celebration  of  our  Centennial  Anniversary. 


Che  National 


BY   BAYARD  TAYLOR. 


Recited  by  the  atttkor  at  the  opening  of  our  Centennial  Exposition, 
July  4,  i»]t>. 

I.  — I. 

Sun  of  the  stately  Day, 
Let  Asia  into  the  shadow  drift. 
Let  Europe  bask  in  thy  ripened  ray, 
And  over  the  severing  ocean  lift 

A  brow  of  broader  splendor ! 
Give  light  to  the  eager  eyes 
Of  the  land  that  waits  to  behold  thee  rise : 
The  gladness  of  morning  lend  her, 
With  the  triumph  of  noon  attend  her, 
And  the  peace  of  the  vesper  skies ! 

For  lo !  she  cometh  now 
With  hope  on  the  lip  and  pride  on  the  brow, 
Stronger,  and  dearer,  and  fairer, 
To  smile  on  the  love  we  bear  her — 
To  live,  as  we  dreamed  her  and  sought  her, 

Liberty's  latest  daughter ! 
In  the  clefts  of  the  rocks,  in  the  secret  places, 

We  found  her  traces ; 
On  the  hills,  in  the  crash  of  woods  that  fall, 

We  heard  her  call ; 
When  the  lines  of  battle  broke, 
We  saw  her  face  in  the  fiery  smoke ; 
Through  toil,  and  anguish,  and  desolation, 
We  followed  and  found  her 


306  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION". 

With  the  grace  of  a  virgin  nation 
As  a  sacred  zone  around  her! 
Who  shall  rejoice 
With  a  righteous  voice, 
Far-heard  through  the  ages,  if  not  she  ? 
For  the  menace  is  dumb  that  defied  her, 

The  doubt  is  dead  that  denied  her, 
And  she  stands  acknowledged,  and  strong,  and  free ! 

II.  — I. 

Ah,  hark  !  the  solemn  undertone 
On  every  wind  of  human  story  blown. 

A  large,  divinely-molded  Fate 
Questions  the  right  and  purpose  of  a  State, 

And  in  its  plan  sublime 
Our  eras  are  the  dust  of  Time. 
The  far-off  Yesterday  of  power 

Creeps  back  with  stealthy  feet, 
Invades  the  lordship  of  the  hour, 
And  at  our  banquet  takes  the  unbidden  seat. 
From  all  unchronicled  and  silent  ages, 
Before  the  Future  first  begot  the  Past, 
Till  History  dared,  at  last, 
To  write  eternal  words  on  granite  pages ; 
From  Egypt's  tawny  drift  and  Assur's  mound, 
And  where,  uplifted  white  and  fair, 
Earth  highest  yearns  to  meet  a  star, 
And  man  his  manhood  by  the  Ganges  found  — 
Imperial  heads,  of  old  millennial  sway, 

And  still  by  some  pale  splendor  crowned, 
Chill  as  a  corpse-light  in  our  full-orbed  day, 

In  ghostly  grandeur  rise 

And  say,  through  stony  lips  and  vacant  eyes  : 
"Thou  that  assertest  freedom,  power  and  fame, 
Declare  to  us  thy  claim  ! " 


^   THE    NATIONAL    ODE.  301 

I.  — II. 

On  the  shores  of  a  continent  cast, 
She  won  the  inviolate  soil 
By  loss  of  heirdom  of  all  the  Past, 
And  faith  in  the  royal  right  of  Toil ! 
She  planted  homes  on  the  savage  sod : 
Into  the  wilderness  lone 

She  walked  with  fearless  feet, 
In  her  hand  the  divining  rod, 
Till  the  veins  of  the  mountains  beat 
With  fire  of  metal  and  force  of  stone  ! 

She  set  the  speed  of  the  river-head 
To  turn  the  mills  of  her  bread  ; 
She  drove  her  plowshare  deep 
Through  the  prairies'  thousand-centuried  sleep ; 
To  the  South,  and  West,  and  North, 
She  called  the  Pathfinder  forth, 
Her  faithful  and  sole  companion, 
Where  the  flushed  Sierra,  snowy-starred, 
Her  way  to  the  sunset  barred, 
And  the  nameless  rivers  in  thunder  and  foam 
Channeled  the  terrible  canyon  ! 
Nor  paused  till  her  uttermost  home 
Was  built  in  the  smile  of  a  softer  sky, 

And  the  glory  of  beauty  still  to  be, 
Where  the  haunted  waves  of  Asia  die 

On  the  strand  of  the  world-wide  sea ! 

II.  — II. 

The  race,  in  conquering, 
Some  fierce  Titanic  joy  of  conquest  knows  ; 

Whether  in  veins  of  serf  or  king 
Our  ancient  blood  beats  restless  in  repose. 

Challenge  of  Nature  unsubdued 


308  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

Awaits  not  man's  defiant  answer  long ; 

For  hardship,  even  as  wrong, 
Provokes  the  level-eyed,  heroic  mood. 
This  for  herself  she  did  ;  but  that  which  lies, 

As  over  earth  the  skies, 
Blending  all  forms  in  one  benignant  glow, — 

Crowned  conscience,  tender  care, 
Justice,  that  answers  every  bondman's  prayer, 
Freedom  where  Faith  may  lead  or  Thought  may  dare, 

The  power  of  minds  that  know, 

Passion  of  hearts  that  feel, 

Purchased  by  blood  and  woe, 

Guarded  by  fire  and  steel  — 
Hath  she  secured  ?     What  blazon  on  her  shield, 

In  the  clear  Century's  light 

Shines  to  the  world  revealed, 
Declaring  nobler  triumph,  born  of  Right  ? 

I.  — III. 

Foreseen  in  the  vision  of  sages, 

Foretold  when  martyrs  bled, 

She  was  born  of  the  longing  of  ages, 
By  the  truth  of  the  noble  dead 
And  the  faith  of  the  living  fed ! 

No  blood  in  her  lightest  veins 

Frets  at  remembered  chains, 
Nor  shame  of  bondage  has  bowed  her  head. 

In  her  form  and  features  still, 

The  unblenching  Puritan  will, 

Cavalier  honor,  Huguenot  grace, 

The  Quaker  truth  and  sweetness, 
And  the  strength  of  the  danger-girdled  race 
Of  Holland,  blend  in  a  proud  completeness. 
From  the  homes  of  all,  where  her  being  began, 

She  took  what  she  gave  to  man  : 


THE    NATIONAL    ODE.  309 


Justice,  that  knew  no  station, 
Belief,  as  soul  decreed, 

Free  air  for  aspiration, 
Free  force  for  independent  deed  ! 

She  takes,  but  to  give  again, 
As  the  sea  returns  the  rivers  in  rain ; 
And  gathers  the  chosen  of  her  seed 
From  the  hunted  of  every  crown  and  creed. 
Her  Germany  dwells  by  a  gentler  Rhine  ; 
Her  Ireland  sees  the  old  sunburst  shine  ; 
Her  France  pursues  some  dream  divine  ; 
Her  Norway  keeps  his  mountain  pine  ; 
Her  Italy  waits  by  the  western  brine  ; 

And,  broad-based  under  all, 
Is  planted  England's  oaken-hearted  wood, 

As  rich  in  fortitude 
As  e'er  went  worldward  from  the  island-wall ! 

Fused  in  her  candid  light, 
To  one  strong  race  all  races  here  unite  : 
Tongues  melt  in  hers,  hereditary  foemen 
Forget  their  sword  and  slogan,  kith  and  clan  ; 

'  Twas  glory,  once,  to  be  a  Roman  ; 
She  makes  it  glory,  now,  to  be  a  man  ! 

II.— III. 

Bow  down ! 
Doff  thine  seonian  crown  ! 

One  hour  forget 
The  glory,  and  recall  the  debt ; 

Make  expiation, 

Of  humbler  mood, 
For  the  pride  of  thine  exultation 
O'er  peril  conquered  and  strife  subdued ! 
But  half  the  right  is  wrested 

When  victory  yields  her  prize, 


310  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

And  half  the  marrow  tested 

When  old  endurance  dies.  • 
In  the  sight  of  them  that  love  thee, 
Bow  to  the  Greater  above  thee  ! 

He  faileth  not  to  smite 

The  idle  ownership  of  Right, 
Nor  spares  to  sinews  fresh  from  trial, 

And  virtue  schooled  in  long  denial, 
The  tests  that  wait  for  thee 
In  larger  perils  of  prosperity. 

Here,  at  the  Century's  awful  shrine, 
Bow  to  thy  Fathers'  God,  and  thine ! 

I.  — IV. 

Behold  !     She  bendeth  now, 
Humbling  the  chaplet  of  her  hundred  years  ; 
There  is  a  solemn  sweetness  on  her  brow, 
And  in  her  eyes  are  sacred  tears. 

Gan  she  forget, 
In  present  joy,  the  burden  of  her  debt, 

When  for  a  captive  race 

She  grandly  staked  and  won 
The  total  promise  of  her  power  begun, 

And  bared  her  bosom's  grace 
To  the  sharp  wound  that  inly  tortures  yet  ? 

Can  she  forget 

The  million  graves  her  young  devotion  set, 

The  hands  that  clasp  above, 
From  either  side,  in  sad,  returning  love  ? 

Can  she  forget, 
Here,  where  the  ruler  of  today, 

The  citizen  of  tomorrow 
And  equal  thousands  to  rejoice  and  pray, 

Beside  these  holy  walls  are  met  — 
Her  birth-cry,  mixed  of  keenest  bliss  and  sorrow  ? 


THE    NATIONAL    ODE.  311 

Where,  on  July's  immortal  morn, 

Held  forth,  the  people  saw  her  head 
And  shouted  to  the  world,  "The  King  is  dead, 

But  lo !  the  Heir  is  born  ! " 
When  fire  of  youth,  and  sober  trust  of  age, 
In  farmer,  soldier,  priest  and  sage, 

Arose  and  cast  upon  her 
Baptismal  garments  —  never  robes  so  fair 

Clad  prince  in  old-world  air  — 
Their  lives,  their  fortunes,  and  their  sacred  honor ! 

II.— IV. 

Arise  !  Recrown  thy  head, 
Radiant  with  blessings  of  the  dead ! 
Bear  from  this  hallowed  place 
The  prayer  that  purifies  thy  lips, 
The  light  of  courage  that  defies  eclipse, 
The  rose  of  man's  new  morning  on  thy  face ! 

Let  no  iconoclast 
Invade  thy  rising  pantheon  of  the  past, 

To  make  a  blank  where  Adams  stood, 
To  tou»h  the  Father's  sheathed  and  sacred  blade, 
Spoil  crowns  on  Jefferson  and  Franklin  laid, 
Or  wash  from  Freedom's  feet  the  stain  of  Lincoln's  blood ! 
Hearken,  as  from  that  haunted  hall 
Their  voices  call : 

"  We  lived  and  died  for  thee ; 
We  greatly  dared  that  thou  might'st  be ; 

So,  from  thy  children  still 
We  claim  denials  which  at  last  fulfill, 
And  freedom  yielded  to  preserve  the  free  ! 

Beside  clear-hearted  Right, 
That  smiles  at  Power's  uplifted  rod, 

Plant  Duties  that  requite 
And  Order  that  sustains,  upon  thy  sod, 


312  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITIONS 

And  stand  in  stainless  might 
Above  all  self,  and  only  less  than  God  ! " 

III.  — I. 

Here  may  thy  solemn  challenge  end, 
All-proving  Past,  and  each  discordance  die 

Of  doubtful  augury ; 
Or  in  one  choral  with  the  Present  blend, 
And  that  half- heard,  sweet  harmony 
Of  something  nobler  that  our  sons  may  see  ! 
Though  poignant  memories  burn 
Of  days  that  were,  and  may  again  return, 
When  thy  fleet  foot,  O  Huntress  of  the  Woods, 
The  slippery  brinks  of  danger  knew, 

And  dim  the  eyesight  grew 
That  was  so  sure  in  thine  old  solitudes  — 

Yet  stays  some  richer  sense, 
Won  from  the  mixture  of  thine  elements, 
To  guide  the  vagrant  scheme, 
Ajnd  winnow  truth  from  each  conflicting  dream ! 

Yet  in  thy  blood  shall  live 
Some  force  unspent,  some  essence  primitive, 
To  seize  the  highest  use  of  things : 
For  Fate,  to  mold  thee  to  her  plan, 

Denied  thee  food  of  kings, 
Withheld  the  udder  and  the  orchard  fruits, 

Fed  thee  with  savage  roots, 
And  forced  thy  harsher  milk  from  barren  breasts  of  man ! 

III.  — II. 

O  sacred  Woman-form ! 
Of  the  first  people's  need  and  passion  wrought, 

No  thin,  pale  ghost  of  thought, 
But  fair  as  morning,  and  as  heart's  blood  warm  — 
Wearing  thy  priestly  tiar  on  Judah's  hills  ; 


THE    NATIONAL    ODE.  313 

Clear-eyed  beneath  Athene's  helm  of  gold  ; 

Or  from  Rome's  central  seat 
Hearing  the  pulses  of  the  continents  beat 
In  thunder  where  her  legions  rolled, 
Compact  of  high,  heroic  hearts  and  wills, 

Whose  being  circles  all 
The  selfish  aims  of  men,  and  all  fulfills ; 
Thyself  not  free,  so  long  as  one  is  thrall ; 
Goddess,  that  as  a  nation  lives, 

And  as  a  nation  dies, 
That  for  her  children  as  a  man  defies, 
And  to  her  children  as  a  mother  gives  — 

Take  our  fresh  fealty  now  ! 
No  more  a  chieftainess,  with  wampum-zone 

And  feather-cinctured  brow  — 
No  more  a  new  Britannia  grown 
To  spread  an  equal  banner  to  the  breeze, 
And  lift  thy  trident  o'er  the  double  seas  ; 

But  with  unborrowed  crest, 
In  thine  own  native  beauty  dressed  — 
The  front  of  pure  command,  the  unflinching  eye,  thine  own  ! 

III.— III. 

Look  up,  look  forth,  and  on  ! 

There's  light  in  the  dawning  sky  : 
The  clouds  are  parting,  the  night  is  gone ; 

Prepare  for  the  work  of  the  day  ! 

Fallow  thy  pastures  lie 

And  far  thy  shepherds  stray, 
And  the  fields  of  thy  vast  domain 

Are  waiting  for  purer  seed 

Of  knowledge,  desire,  and  deed, 
For  keener  sunshine  and  mellower  rain  ! 

But  keep  thy  garments  pure  : 
Pluck  them  back,  with  the  old  disdain, 


314  THE    NATIONAL    ODE. 

From  touch  of  the  hands  that  stain ! 
So  shall  thy  strength  endure. 
Transmute  into  good  the  gold  of  Gain, 
Compel  to  beauty  thy  ruder  powers, 
Till  the  bounty  of  coming  hours 
Shall  plant  on  thy  fields  apart, 
With  the  oak  of  Toil,  the  rose  of  Art ! 
Be  watchful,  and  keep  us  so  : 
Be  strong,  and  fear  no  foe  : 
Be  just,  and  the  world  shall  know  ! 
With  the  same  love  love  us,  as  we  give ; 
And  the  day  shall  never  come, 
That  finds  us  weak 'or  dumb 
To  join  and  smite  and  cry 
In  the  great  task,  for  thee  to  die, 
And  the  greater  task,  for  thee  to  live  ! 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION. 

Delivered  by  Hon.  Win.  J/l  Ei'arts,  at  Philadelphia,  July  4,  iSjb. 

The  event  which  to-day  we  commemorate  supplies  its  own  reflections  and 
enthusiasms  and  brings  its  own  plaudits.  They  do  not  at  all  hang  on  the 
voice  of  the  speaker,  nor  do  they  greatly  depend  upon  the  contacts  and  asso- 
ciations of  the  place.  The  Declaration  of  American  independence  was,  when 
it  occurred,  a  capital  transaction  in  human  affairs;  as  such  it  has  kept  its 
place  in  history;  as  such  it  will  maintain  itself  while  human  interest  in  human 
institutions  shall  endure.  The  scene  and  the  actors,  for  their  profound  im- 
pression upon  the  world,  at  the  time  and  ever  since,  have  owed  nothing  to 
dramatic  effects,  nothing  to  epical  exaggerations.  To  the  eye  there  was 
nothing  wonderful,  or  vast,  or  splendid,  or  pathetic  in  the  movement  or  the 
display.  Imagination  or  art  can  give  no  sensible  grace  or  decoration  to  the 
persons,  the  place,  or  the  performance,  which  made  up  the  business  of  that 
day.  The  worth  and  force  that  belong  to  the  agents  and  the  action  rest 
wholly  on  the  wisdom,  the  courage  and  the  faith  that  formed  and  executed 
the  great  design,  and  the  potency  and  permanence  of  its  operation  upon  the 
affairs  of  the  world  which,  as  foreseen  and  legitimate  consequences,  followed. 
The  dignity  of  the  act  is  the  deliberate,  circumspect,  open  and  serene  per- 
formance by  these  men  in  the  clear  light  of  day,  and  by  a  concurrent  purpose, 
of  a  civic  duty  which  embraced  the  greatest  hazards  to  themselves  and  to  all 
the  people  from  whom  they  held  this  deputed  discretion,  but  which,  to  their 
sober  judgments,  promised  benefits  to  that  people  and  their  posterity,  from 
generation  to  generation,  exceeding  these  hazards  and  commensurate  with  its 
own  fitness.  The  question  of  their  conduct  is  to  be  measured  by  the  actual 
weight  and  pressure  of  the  manifold  considerations  which  surrounded  the 
subject  before  them,  and  by  the  abundant  evidence  that  they  comprehended 
their  vastness  and  variety.  By  a  voluntary  and  responsible  choice  they  willed 
lo  do  what  was  done,  and  what  without  their  will  would  not  have  been  done. 


316  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION.. 

Thus  estimated,  the  illustrious  act  covers  all  who  participated  in  it  with  its 
own  renown,  and  makes  them  forever  conspicuous  among  men,  as  it  is  forever 
famous  among  events.  And  thus  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  our  Inde- 
pendence "wrote  their  names  where  all  nations  should  behold  them,  and  all 
time  should  not  efface  them."  It  was,  "in  the  course  of  human  events," 
intrusted  to  them  to  determine  whether  the  fulness  of  time  had  come  when  a 
nation  should  be  born  in  a  day.  They  declared  the  independence  of  a  new 
nation  in  the  sense  in  which  men  declare  emancipation  or  declare  war ;  the 
declaration  created  what  was  declared. 

Famous,  always,  among  men,  are  the  founders  of  states,  and  fortunate 
above  all  others  in  such  fame  are  these,  our  fathers,  whose  combined  wisdom 
and  courage  began  the  great  structure  of  our  national  existence,  and  laid  sure 
the  foundations  of  liberty  and  justice  on  which  it  rests.  Fortunate,  first,  in 
the  clearness  of  their  title  and  in  the  world's  acceptance  of  their  righlful 
claim.  Fortunate,  next,  in  the  enduring  magnitude  of  the  state  they  founded 
and  the  beneficence  of  its  protection  of  the  vast  interests  of  human  life  and 
happiness  which  have  here  had  their  home.  Fortunate,  again,  in  the  admiring 
imitation  of  their  work,  which  the  institutions  of  the  most  powerful  and  most 
advanced  nations  more  and  more  exhibit ;  and  last  of  all,  fortunate  in  the 
full  demonstrations  of  our  later  time  that  their  work  is  adequate  to  withstand 
the  most  disastrous  storms  of  human  fortunes,  and  survive  unwrecked, 
unshaken  and  unharmed. 

This  day  has  now  been  celebrated  by  a  great  people  at  each  recurrence  of 
its  anniversary  for  a  hundred  years,  with  every  form  of  ostentatious  joy,  with 
every  demonstration  of  respect  and  gratitude  for  the  ancestral  virtue  which 
gave  it  its  glory,  and  with  the  firmest  faith  that  growing  time  should  neither 
obscure  its  lustre  nor  reduce  the  ardor  or  discredit  the  sincerity  of  its  observ- 
ance. A  reverent  spirit  has  explored  the  lives  of  the  men  who  took  part  in 
the  great  transaction  —  has  unfolded  their  characters  and  exhibited  to  an 
admiring  posterity  the  purity  of  their  motives,  the  sagacity,  the  bravery,  the 
fortitude,  the  perseverance  which  marked  their  conduct,  and  which  secured 
the  prosperity  and  permanence  of  their  work. 

Philosophy  has  divined  the  secrets  of  all  this  power,  and  eloquence 
emblazoned  the  magnificence  of  all  its  results.  The  heroic  war  which  fought 
out  the  acquiescence  of  the  Old  World  in  the  independence  of  the  New;  the 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  317 

manifold  and  masterly  forms  of  noble  character  and  of  patient  and  serene 
wisdom  which  the  great  influences  of  the  time  begat;  the  large  and  splendid 
scale  on  which  these  elevated  purposes  were  wrought  out,  and  the  majestic 
proportions  to  which  they  have  been  rilled  up  ;  the  unended  line  of  eventful 
progress,  casting  ever  backward  a  flood  of  light  upon  the  sources  of  the 
original  energy,  and  ever  forward  a  promise  and  prophecy  of  unexhausted 
power  —  all  these  have  been  made  familiar  to  our  people  by  the  genius  and 
the  devotion  of  historians  and  orators.  The  greatest  statesmen  of  the  Old 
World  for  this  same  period  of  a  hundred  years  have  traced  the  initial  steps  in 
these  events,  looked  into  the  nature  of  the  institutions  thus  founded  ;  weighed 
by  the  Old-World  wisdom,  and  measured  by  recorded  experience,  the  prob- 
able fortunes  of  this  new  adventure  on  an  unknown  sea.  This  circumspect 
and  searching  survey  of  our  wide  field  of  political  and  social  experiments,  no 
doubt,  has  brought  them  a  diversity  of  judgment  as  to  the  past,  and  of 
expectation  as  to  the  future.  But  of  the  magnitude  and  the  novelty  and  the 
power  of  the  forces  set  at  work  by  the  event  we  commemorate,  no  competent 
authorities  have  ever  greatly  differed.  The  cotemporary  judgment  of  Burke 
is  scarcely  an  overstatement  of  the  European  opinion  of  the  immense  import 
of  American  independence.  He  declared :  "A  great  revolution  has  hap- 
pened —  a  revolution  made,  not  by  chopping  and  changing  of  power  in  any  of 
the  existing  states,  but  by  the  appearance  of  a  new  state,  of  a  new  species,  in 
a  new  part  of  the  globe.  It  has  made  as  great  a  change  in  all  the  relations 
and  balances  and  gravitations  of  power  as  the  appearance  of  a  new  planet 
would  in  the  system  of  the  solar  world." 

It  is  easy  to  understand  that  the  rupture  between  the  colonies  and  the 
mother  country  might  have  worked  a  result  of  political  independence  that 
would  have  involved  no  such  mighty  consequences  as  are  here  so  strongly 
announced  by  the  most  philosophic  statesman  of  his  age.  The  resistance  of 
the  colonies,  which-  came  to  a  head  in  the  revolt,  was  led  in  the  name  and  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  liberties  of  Englishmen  against  Parliamentary  usur- 
pation and  a  subversion  of  the  British  constitution.  A  triumph  of  those 
liberties  might  have  ended  in  an  emancipation  from  the  rule  of  the  English 
Parliament,  and  a  continued  submission  to  the  scheme  and  system  of  the 
British  monarchy,  with  an  American  Parliament  adjusted  thereto,  upon  the 
true  principles  of  the  English  constitution.  Whether  this  new  political 


318  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

establishment  should  have  maintained  loyalty  to  the  British  sovereign,  or 
should  have  been  organized  under  a  crown  and  throne  of  its  own,  the  trans- 
action would  then  have  had  no  other  importance  than  such  as  belongs  to  a 
dismemberment  of  existing  empire,  but  with  preservation  of  existing  institu- 
tions. There  would  have  been,  to  be  sure,  a  "  new  state,"  but  not  "  of  a  new 
species;"  and  that  it  was  "in  a  new  part  of  the  globe"  would  have  gone  far 
to  make  the  dismemberment  but  a  temporary  and  circumstantial  disturbance 
in  the  old  order  of  things.  Indeed,  the  solidity  and  perpetuity  of  that  order 
might  have  been  greatly  confirmed  by  this  propagation  of  the  model  of  the 
European  monarchies  on  the  boundless  regions  of  this  continent.  It  is  pre- 
cisely here  that  the  Declaration  of  Independence  has  its  immense  importance. 
As  a  civil  act,  and  by  the  people's  decree  —  and  not  by  the  achievement  of 
the  army,  or  through  military  motives  —  at  the  first  stage  of  the  conflict  it 
assigned  a  new  nationality,  with  its  own  institutions,  as  the  civilly,  preordained 
end  to  be  fought  for  and  secured.  It  did  not  leave  it  to  be  an  afterfruit  of 
triumphant  war,  shaped  and  measured  by  military  power,  and  conferred  by 
the  army  on  the  people.  This  assured  at  the  outset  the  supremacy  of  civil 
over  military  authority,  the  subordination  of  the  army  to  the  unarmed  people. 
This  deliberative  choice  of  the  scope  and  goal  of  the  Revolution  made  sure 
of  two  things,  which  must  have  been  always  greatly  in  doubt,  if  military 
reasons  and  events  had  held  the  mastery  over  the  civil  power.  The  first  was 
that  nothing  less  than  the  independence  of  the  nation  and  its  separation  from 
the  system  of  Europe  would  be  attained  if  our  arms  were  prosperous;  and 
the  second,  that  the  new  nation  would  always  be  the  mistress  of  its  own 
institutions.  This  might  not  have  been  its  fate  had  a  triumphant  army  won 
the  prize  of  independence,  not  as  a  task  set  for  it  by  the  people,  and  done 
in  its  service,  but  by  its  own  might,  and  held  by  its  own  title,  and  so  to  be 
shaped  and  dealt  with  by  its  own  vfill. 

There  is  the  best  reason  to  think  that  the  Congress,  which  declared  our 
independence  gave  its  chief  solicitude,  not  to  the  hazards  of  military  failure, 
not  to  the  chance  of  miscarriage  in  the  project  of  separation  from  En- 
gland; but  to  the  grave  responsibility  of  the  military  success  (of  which  they 
made  no  doubt)  and  as  to  what  should  replace,  as  government  to  the  new 
nation,  the  monarchy  of  England,  which  they  considered  as  gone  to  them 
forever  from  the  date  of  the  Declaration. 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  319 

Nor  did  this  Congress  feel  any  uncertainty,  either  in  disposition  or  expecta- 
tion, that  the  natural  and  necessary  result  would  preclude  the  formation  of  the 
new  government  out  of  any  other  materials  than  such  as  were  to  be  found  in 
society  as  established  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  These  materials,  they 
foresaw,  were  capable  of  and  would  tolerate  only  such  political  establishment 
as  would  maintain  and  perpetuate  the  equality  and  liberty  always  enjoyed  in 
the  several  colonial  communities. 

But  all  these  limitations  upon  what  was  possible  still  left  a  large  range  of 
anxiety  as  to  what  was  probable,  and  might  become  actual.  One  thing  was 
too  essential  to  be  left  uncertain,  and  the  founders  of  this  nation  determined 
that  there  never  should  be  a  moment  when  the  several  communities  of  the 
different  colonies  should  lose  the  character  of  component  parts  of  one  nation. 
By  their  plantation  and  growth  up  to  the  day  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence they  were  subjects  of  one  sovereignty,  bound  together  in  one 
political  connection,  parts  of  one  country,  under  one  constitution,  with  one 
destiny.  Accordingly  the  Declaration,  by  its  very  terms,  made  the  act  of 
separation  a  dissolving  by  "one  people"  of  "the  political  bands  that  have 
connected  them  with  another,"  and  the  proclamation  of  the  right  and  of  the 
fact  of  independent  nationality  wao  "that  these  UNITED  colonies  are,  and  of 
right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  States." 

It  was  thus  that,  at  one  breath,  "  independence  and  union  "  were  declared 
and  established.  The  confirmation  of  the  first  by  war,  and  of  the  second  by 
civil  wisdom,  was  but  the  execution  of  the  single  design,  which  it  is  the  glory 
of  this  great  instrument  of  our  national  existence  to  have  framed  and 
announced.  The  recognition  of  our  independence  first  by  France,  and  then 
by  Great  Britain,  the  closer  union  by  the  articles  of  confederation,  and  the 
final  unity  by  the  Federal  Constitution,  were  all  but  muniments  of  title  of 
that  "  liberty  and  union,  one  and  inseparable,"  which  were  proclaimed  at  this 
place,  and  on  this  day,  one  hundred  years  ago,  which  have  been  our  possession 
from  that  moment  hitherto,  and  which  we  surely  avow  shall  be  our  possession 
forever. 

Seven  years  of  revolutionary  war  and  twelve  years  of  consummate  civil 
prudence  brought  us,  in  turn,  to  the  conclusive  peace  of  1783  and  to  the 
perfected  constitution  of  1787.  Few  chapters  of  the  world's  history  covenng 
such  brief  periods  are  crowded  with  so  many  illustrious  names,  or  made  up 


320  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

of  events  of  so  deep  and  permanent  interest  to  mankind.  I  cannot  stay  to 
recall  to  your  attention  these  characters  or  these  incidents,  or  to  renew  the 
gratitude  and  applause  with  which  we  never  cease  to  contemplate  them.  It 
is  only  their  relation  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence  itself  that  I  need 
to  insist  upon,  and  to  the  new  state  which  it  brought  into  existence.  In  this 
view,  these  progressive  processes  were  "but  the  articulation  of  the  members 
of  the  state,  and  the  adjustment  of  its  circulation  to  the  new  centres  of  its 
vital  power.  The  processes  were  all  implied  and  included  in  this  political 
creation,  and  were  as  necessary  and  as  certain,  if  it  were  not  to  languish  and 
to  die,  as  in  any  natural  creature. 

Within  the  hundred  years  whose  flight  in  our  national  history  we  mark 
to-day  we  have  had  occasion  to  corroborate  by  war  both  the  independence 
and  the  unity  of  the  nation.  In  our  war  against  England  for  neutrality  we 
asserted  and  we  established  the  absolute  right  to  be  free  of  European  entan- 
glements, in  time  of  war  as  well  as  in  time  of  peace/ and  so  completed  our 
independence  of  Europe.  And  by  the  war  of  the  Constitution,  a  war  within 
the  nation,  the  bonds  of  our  unity  were  tried  and  tested,  as  in  a  fiery  furnace, 
and  proved  to  be  dependent  on  no  shifting  vicissitudes  of  acquiescence,  no 
partial  dissents  or  discontents;  but,  so  far  as  is  predicable  of  human  fortunes, 
irrevocable,  indestructible,  perpetual !  Casibtis  hcec  nullis,  nullo  delebilis 
cn>o. 

We  may  be  quite  sure  that  the  high  resolve  to  stake  the  future  of  a  great 
people  upon  a  system  of  society  and  of  polity  that  should  dispense  with  the 
dogmas,  the  experience,  the  traditions,  the  habits  and  the  sentiments  upon 
which  the  firm  and  durable  fabric  of  the  British  constitution  had  been  built 
up  was  not  taken  without  a  solicitous  and  competent  survey  of  the  history, 
the  condition,  the  temper,  and  the  moral  and  intellectual  traits  of  the  people 
for  whom  the  decisive  step  was  taken. 

It  may  indeed  be  suggested  that  the  main  body  of  the  elements,  and  a 
large  share  of  the  arrangements,  of  the  new  government,  were  expected  to 
be  upon  the  model  of  the  British  system,  and  that  the  substantial  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty  and  the  institutions  for  their  maintenance  and  defense 
were  already  the  possession  of  the  people  of  England  and  the  birthright  of 
the  colonists.  But  this  consideration  does  not  much  disparage  the  responsi- 
bility assumed  in  discarding  the  correlative  parts  of  the  British  constitution. 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  321 

I  mean  the  established  church  and  throne;  the  permanent  power  of  a  hered- 
itary peerage;  the  confinement  of  popular  representation  to  the  wealthy  and 
educated  classes;  and  the  ideas  of  all  participation  by  the  people  in  their  own 
government  coming  by  gracious  concession  from  the  royal  prerogative,  and 
not  by  inherent  right  in  themselves.  Indeed,  the  counter  consideration,  so 
far  as  the  question  was  to  be  solved  by  experience,  would  be  a  ready  one. 
The  foundation,  and  the  walls,  and  the  roof  of  this  firm  and  noble  edifice,  it 
would  be  said,  are  all  fitly  framed  together  in  the  substantial  institutions  you 
propose  to  omit  from  your  plan  and  model.  The  convenience  and  safety  and 
freedom,  the  pride  and  happiness  which  the  inmates  of  this  temple  and  for- 
tress enjoy,  as  the  rights  and  liberties  of  Englishmen,  are  only  kept  in  place 
and  play  because  of  the  firm  structure  of  these  ancient  strongholds  of  religion 
and  law,  which  you  now  desert  and  refuse  to  build  anew. 

Our  fathers  had  formed  their  opinions  upon  wiser  and  deeper  views  of  man 
and  Providence  than  these,  and  they  had  the  courage  of  their  opinions. 

Tracing  the  progress  of  mankind  in  the  ascending  path  of  civilization, 
enlightenment  and  moral  and  intellectual  culture,  they  found  that  the  Divine 
ordinance  of  government,  in  every  stage  of  the  ascent,  was  adjustable  on 
principles  of  common  reason  to  the  actual  condition  of  a  people;  and  always 
had  for  its  objects,  in  the  benevolent  counsels  of  the  Divine  wisdom,  the 
happiness,  the  expansion,  the  security,  the  elevation  of  society,  and  the 
redemption  of  man.  They  sought  in  vain  for  any  title  of  authority  of  man 
over  man,  except  of  superior  capacity  and  higher  morality.  They  found  the 
origin  of  castes  and  ranks,  and  principalities  and  powers,  temporal  or  spiritual, 
in  this  conception.  They  recognized  the  people  as  the  structure,  the  temple, 
the  fortress,  which  the  great  Artificer  all  the  while  cared  for  and  built  up. 
As  through  the  long  march  of  time  this  work  advanced,  the  forms  and  fash- 
ions of  government  seemed  to  them  to  be  but  the  scaffolding  and  apparatus 
by  which  the  development  of  a  people's  greatness  was  shaped  and  sustained. 
Satisfied  that  the  people  whose  institutions  were  now  to  be  projected  had 
reached  all  that  measure  of  strength  and  fitness  of  preparation  for  self- 
government  which  old  institutions  could  give,  they  fearlessly  seized  the  happy 
opportunity  to  clothe  the  people  with  the  majestic  attributes  of  their  own 
sovereignty,  and  consecrate  them  to  the  administration  of  their  own  priest- 
hood. 


322  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

The  repudiation  by  England  of  the  spiritual  power  of  Rome  at  the  time  of 
the  Reformation  was  by  every  estimate  a  stupendous  innovation  in  the  rooted 
allegiance  of  the  people,  a  profound  disturbance  of  all  adjustments  of 
authority.  But  Henry  VIII.,  when  he  displaced  the  dominion  of  the  pope, 
proclaimed  himself  the  head  of  the  church.  The  overthrow  of  the  ancient 
monarchy  of  France,  by  the  fierce  triumph  of  an  enraged  people,  was  a 
catastrophe  that  shook  the  arrangements  of  society  from  centre  to  circumfer- 
ence. But  Napoleon,  when  he  pushed  aside  the  royal  line  of  St.  Louis, 
announced,  "I  am  the  people  crowned,"  and  set  up  a  plebeian  emperor  as 
the  impersonation  and  depositary,  in  him  and  his  line  forever,  of  the  people's 
sovereignty.  The  founders  of  our  commonwealth  conceived  that  the  people 
of  these  colonies  needed  no  interception  of  the  supreme  control  of  their  own 
affairs,  no  conciliations  of  mere  names  and  images  of  power  from  which  the 
pith  and  vigor  of  authority  had  departed.  They,  therefore,  did  not  hesitate 
to  throw  down  the  partitions  of  power  and  right,  and  break  up  the  distributive 
shares  in  authority  of  ranks  and  orders  of  men  which,  indeed,  had  ruled  and 
advanced  the  development  of  society  in  civil  and  religious  liberty,  but  might 
well  be  neglected  when  the  protected  growth  was  assured,  and  all  tutelary 
supervision,  for  this  reason,  henceforth  could  only  be  obstructive  and  incon- 
gruous. 

A  glance  at  the  fate  of  the  English  essay  at  a  commonwealth,  which  pre- 
ceded, and  to  the  French  experiment  at  a  republic,  which  followed  our  own 
institution  "of  a  new  state,  of  a  new  species,"  will  show  the  marvelous  wis- 
dom of  our  ancestors,  which  struck  the  line  between  too  little  and  too  much; 
which  walked  by  faith  indeed  for  things  invisible,  but  yet  by  sight  for  things 
visible;  which  dared  to  appropriate  everything  to  the  people  which  belonged 
to  Caesar,  but  to  assume  for  mortals  nothing  that  belonged  to  God. 

No  doubt  it  was  a  deliberation  of  prodigious  difficulty,  and  a  decision  of 
infinite  moment,  which  should  settle  the  new  institutions  of  England  after 
the  execution  of  the  king,  and  determine  whether  they  should  be  popular  or 
monarchical.  The  problem  was  too  vast  for  Cromwell  and  the  great  men 
who  stood  about  him,  and,  halting  between  the  only  possible  opinions,  they 
simply  robbed  the  throne  of  stability,  without  giving  the  people  the  choice 
of  their  rulers.  Had  Cromwell  assumed  the  state  and  style  of  king,  and 
assigned  the  constitutional  limits  of  prerogative,  the  statesmen  of  England 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  323 

would  have  anticipated  the  establishment  of  1688,  and  saved  the  disgraces 
of  the  intervening  record.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  ever  recurring  consent 
of  the  people  in  vesting  the  chief  magistracy  had  been  accepted  for  the  con- 
stitution of  the  state,  the  revolution  would  have  been  intelligible,  and  might 
have  proved  permanent.  But  what  a  "Lord  Protector"  was,  nobody  knew; 
and  what  he  might  grow  to  be,  everybody  wondered  and  feared.  The  aris- 
tocracy could  endure  no  dignity  above  them  less  than  a  king's.  The  people 
knew  the  measure  and  the  title  of  the  chartered  liberties  which  had  been 
wrested  or  yielded  from  the  king's  prerogative;  but  what  the  division  between 
them  and  a  lord  protector  would  be,  no  one  could  forecast.  A  brief  fluttering 
between  the  firmament  above  and  the  firm  earth  beneath,  with  no  poise  with 
either,  and  the  discordant  scheme  was  rolled  away  as  a  scroll.  A  hundred 
years  afterward  Montesquieu  derided  "  this  impotent  effort  of  the  English  to 
establish  a  democracy,"  and  divined  the  true  cause  of  its  failure.  The 
supreme  place,  no  longer  sacred  by  the  divinity  that  doth  hedge  about  a 
king,  irritated  the  ambitious,  to  which  it  was  inaccessible  except  by  faction 
and  violence.  "The  government  was  incessantly  changed,  and  the  aston- 
ished people  sought  for  democracy  and  found  it  nowhere.  After  much  vio- 
lence and  many  shocks  and  blows,  they  were  fain  to  fall  back  upon  the  same 
government  they  had  overthrown." 

The  English  experiment  to  make  a  commonwealth  without  sinking  its 
foundations  into  the  firm  bed  of  popular  sovereignty  necessarily  failed.  Its 
example  and  its  lesson,  unquestionably,  were  of  the  greatest  service  in  sober- 
ing the  spirit  of  English  reform  in  government,  to  the  solid  establishment  of 
constitutional  monarchy,  on  the  expulsion  of  the  Stuarts,  and  in  giving  cour- 
age to  the  statesmen  of  the  American  Revolution  to  push  on  to  the  solid 
establishment  of  republican  government,  with  the  consent  of  the  people  as 
its  everyday  working  force. 

But  if  the  English  experiment  stumbled  in  its  logic  by  not  going  far 
enough,  the  French  philosophers  came  to  greater  disaster  by  overpassing  the 
lines  which  mark  the  limits  of  human  authority  and  human  liberty,  when 
they  undertook  to  redress  the  disordered  balance  between  people  and  rulers, 
and  renovate  the  government  of  France.  To  the  wrath  of  the  people  against 
kings  and  priests  they  gave  free  course,  not  only  to  the  overthrow  of  the 
establishment  of  the  church  and  state,  but  to  the  destruction  of  religion  and 


324  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

society.  They  deified  man,  and  thought  to  raise  a  tower  of  man's  building, 
as  of  old  on  the  plain  of  Shinar,  which  should  overtop  the  battlements  of 
heaven,  and  frame  a  constitution  of  human  affairs  that  should  displace  the 
providence  of  God.  A  confusion  of  tongues  put  an  end  to  this  ambition. 
And  now  out  of  all  its  evils  have  come  the  salutary  checks  and  discipline  in 
freedom,  which  have  brought  passionate  and  fervid  France  to  the  scheme 
and  frame  of  a  sober  and  firm  republic  like  our  own,  and,  we  may  hope,  as 
durable. 

How  much,  then,  hung  upon  the  decision  of  the  great  day  we  celebrate, 
and  upon  the  wisdom  and  the  will  of  the  men  who  fixed  the  immediate,  and 
if  so  the  present,  fortunes  of  this  people.  If  the  body,  the  spirit,  the  texture 
of  our  political  life  had  not  been  collectively  declared  on  this  day,  who  can 
be  bold  enough  to  say  when  and  how  independence,  liberty,  union  would 
have  been  combined,  confirmed,  assured  to  this  people?  Behold,  now,  the 
greatness  of  our  debt  to  this  ancestry,  and  the  fountain,  as  from  a  rock  smit- 
ten in  the  wilderness,  from  which  the  stream  of  this  nation's  growth  and 
power  takes  its  source.  For  it  is  not  alone  in  the  memory  of  their  wisdom 
and  virtues  that  the  founders  of  a  State  transmit  and  perpetuate  their  influ- 
ences in  its  lasting  fortunes,  and  shape  the  character  and  purposes  of  its 
future  rulers.  "  In  the  birth  of  societies,"  says  Montesquieu,  "  it  is  the  chiefs 
of  a  state  that  make  its  institutions;  and  afterward  it  is  these  institutions  that 
form  the  chiefs  of  the  state." 

And  what  was  this  people,  and  what  their  traits  and  training,  that  could 
justify  this  congress  of  their  great  men  in  promulgating  the  profound  views 
of  government  and  human  nature  which  the  Declaration  embodies,  and 
expecting  their  acceptance  as  "self-evident"?  How  had  their  lives  been 
disciplined,  and  how  their  spirits  prepared,  that  the  new-launched  ship, 
freighted  with  all  their  fortunes,  could  be  trusted  to  their  guidance,  with  no 
chart  or  compass  than  these  abstract  truths?  What  warrant  was  there  for 
the  confidence  that  upon  these  plain  precepts  of  equality  of  right,  community 
of  interest,  reciprocity  of  duty,  a  polity  could  be  framed  which  might  safely 
discard  Egyptian  mystery,  and  Hebrew  reverence,  and  Grecian  subtlety,  and 
Roman  strength  —  dispense,  even,  with  English  traditions  of 

"Primogenitive  and  due  of  birth, 
Prerogative  of  age,  crown,  sceptres,  laurels"? 


THE  CEXTENNIAL  ORATION.  325 

To  these  questions  the  answer  was  ready  and  sufficient.  The  delegates 
to  this  immortal  assembly,  speaking  for  the  whole  country,  and  for  the 
respective  colonies,  their  constituents,  might  well  say: 

"  What  we  are,  such  are  this  people.  We  are  not  here  as  volunteers,  but 
as  their  representatives.  We  have  been  designated  by  no  previous  official 
station,  taken  from  no  one  employment  or  condition  of  life,  chosen  from  the 
people  at  large  because  they  cannot  assemble  in  person,  and  selected  because 
they  know  our  sentiments,  and  we  theirs,  on  the  momentous  question  which 
our  deliberations  are  to  decide.  They  know  that  the  result  of  all  hangs  on 
the  intelligence,  the  courage,  the  constancy,  the  spirit  of  the  people  them- 
selves. If  these  have  risen  to  a  height  and  grown  to  a  strength  and  una- 
nimity that  our  judgment  measures  as  adequate  to  the  struggle  for  independ- 
ence and  the  whole  sum  of  their  liberties,  they  will  accept  that  issue  and 
follow  that  lead.  They  have  taken  up  arms  to  maintain  their  rights,  and  will 
not  lay  them  down  till  those  rights  are  assured.  What  the  nature  and  sane 
tions  of  this  security  are  to  be  they  understand  must  be  determined  by  united 
counsels  and  concerted  action.  These  they  have  deputed  us  to  settle  and 
proclaim,  and  this  we  have  done  to-day.  What  we  have  declared,  the  people 
will  avow  and  confirm.  Henceforth  it  is  to  this  people  a  war  for  the  defense 
of  their  united  independence  against  its  overthrow  by  foreign  arms.  Of  that 
war  there  can  be  but  one  issue. 

"And  for  the  rest,  as  to  the  constitution  of  the  new  state,  its  species  is 
disclosed  by  its  existence.  The  condition  of  the  people  is  equal,  they  have 
the  habits  of  freemen,  and  possess  the  institutions  of  liberty.  When  the 
political  connection  with  the  parent  state  is  dissolved,  they  will  be  self- 
governing  and  self-governed  of  necessity.  As  all  governments  in  this  world, 
good  and  bad,  liberal  or  despotic,  are  of  men,  by  men,  and  for  men,  this  new 
state,  having  no  caste  or  ranks,  or  degrees  discriminating  among  men  in  its 
population,  becomes  at  once  a  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and 
for  the  people.  So  it  must  remain,  unless  foreign  conquest  or  domestic  usur- 
pation shall  change  it.  Whether  it  shall  be  a  just,  wise  or  prosperous  gov- 
ernment, it  must  be  a  popular  government,  and  correspond  with  the  wisdom, 
justice  and  fortunes  of  the  people/' 

And  so  this  people,  of  various  roots  and  kindred  of  the  Old  World  — 
settled  and  transfused  in  their  cisatlantic  home  into  harmonious  fellowship  in 


326  BEX  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

the  sentiments,  the  interests,  the  habits,  the  affections  which  develop  and 
sustain  a  love  of  country  —  were  committed  to  the  common  fortunes  which 
should  attend  an  absolute  trust  in  the  primary  relations  between  man  and 
his  fellows  and  between  man  and  his  Maker.  This  Northern  Continent  of 
America  had  been  opened  and  prepared  for  the  transplantation  of  the  full- 
grown  manhood  of  the  highest  civilization  of  the  Old  World  to  a  place  where 
it  could  be  free  from  mixture  or  collision  with  competing  or  hostile  elements, 
and  separated  from  the  weakness  and  the  burdens  which  it  would  leave 
behind.  The  impulses  and  attractions  which  moved  the  emigration,  and 
directed  it  hither,  various  in  form,  yet  had  so  much  a  common  character  as  to 
merit  the  description  of  being  public,  elevated,  moral  or  religious.  They 
included  the  desire  of  new  and  better  opportunities  for  institutions  consonant 
with  the  dignity  of  human  nature,  and  with  the  immortal  and  infinite  rela- 
tions of  the  race.  In  the  language  of  the  times,  the  search  for  civil  and 
religious  liberty  animated  the  Pilgrims,  the  Puritans  and  the  Churchmen,  the 
Presbyterians,  the  Catholics  and  the  Quakers,  the  Huguenots,  the  Dutch  and 
the  Walloons,  the  Waldenses,  the  Germans  and  the  Swedes,  in  their  several 
migrations  which  made  up  the  colonial  population.  Their  experience  and 
fortunes  here  had  done  nothing  to  reduce,  everything  to  confirm,  the  views  and 
traits  which  brought  them  hither.  To  sever  all  political  relations,  then,  with 
Europe,  seemed  to  these  people  but  the  realization  of  the  purposes  which 
had  led  them  across  the  ocean  —  but  the  one  thing  needful  to  complete  this 
continent  for  their  home,  and  to  give  the  absolute  assurance  of  that  higher 
life  which  they  wished  to  lead.  The  preparation  of  the  past  and  the  enthu- 
siasms of  the  future  conspired  to  favor  the  project  of  self-government  and 
invest  it  with  a  moral  grandeur  which  furnished  the  best  omens  and  the  best 
guarantees  for  its  prosperity.  Instead  of  a  capricious  and  giddy  exaltation 
of  spirit,  as  at  new-gained  liberty,  a  sober  and  solemn  sense  of  the  larger 
trust  and  duty  took  possession  of  their  souls;  as  if  the  Great  Master  had 
found  them  faithful  over  a  few  things,  and  had  now  made  them  rulers  over 
many. 

These  feelings,  common  to  the  whole  population,  were  not  of  sudden 
origin  and  were  not  romantic,  nor  had  they  any  tendency  to  evaporate  in 
noisy  boasts  or  run  wild  in  air-drawn  projects.  The  difference  between 
equality  and  privilege,  between  civil  rights  and  capricious  favors,  between 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  327 

freedom  of  conscience  and  persecution  for  conscience'  sake,  were  not  matters 
of  moot  debate  or  abstract  conviction  with  our  countiymen.  The  story  of 
these  battles  of  our  race  was  the  warm  and  living  memory  of  their  forefathers' 
share  in  them,  for  which,  "  to  avoid  insufferable  grievances  at  home,  they  had 
been  enforced  by  heaps  to  leave  their  native  countries."  They  proposed  to 
settle  forever  the  question  whether  such  grievances  should  possibly  befall 
them  or  their  posterity.  They  knew  no  plan  r.o  simple,  so  comprehensive,  or 
so  sure  to  this  end  as  to  solve  all  the  minor  difficulties  in  the  government  of 
society  by  a  radical  basis  for  its  source,  a  common  field  for  its  operation,  and 
an  authentic  and  deliberate  method  for  consulting  and  enforcing  the  will  of 
the  people  as  the  sole  authority  of  the  state. 

By  this  wisdom  they  at  least  would  shift,  within  the  sphere  of  government, 
the  continuous  warfare  of  human  nature,  on  the  field  of  good  and  evil,  right 

and  wrong, 

"  Between  whose  endless  jar  justice  resides," 

from  conflicts  of  the  strength  of  the  many  against  the  craft  of  the  few. 
They  would  gain  the  advantage  of  supplying  as  the  reason  of  the  state  the 
reason  of  the  people,  and  decide  by  the  moral  and  intellectual  influences  of 
instruction  and  persuasion  the  issue  of  who  should  make  and  who  administer 
the  laws.  This  involved  no  pretensions  of  the  perfection  of  human  nature, 
nor  did  it  assume  that  at  other  times,  or  under  other  circumstances,  they 
would  themselves  have  been  capable  of  self-government,  or  that  other  people 
then  were  or  ever  would  be  so  capable.  Their  knowledge  of  mankind  showed 
them  that  there  would  be  faults  and  crimes  so  long  as  there  were  men. 
Their  faith  taught  them  that  this  corruptible  would  put  on  incorruption  only 
when  this  mortal  should  put  on  immortality.  Nevertheless,  they  believed 
in  man  and  trusted  in  God,  and  on  these  imperishable  supports  they  thought 
they  might  rest  civil  government  for  a  people  who  had  these  living  concep- 
tions wrought  into  their  own  characters  and  lives. 

The  past  and  the  present  are  the  only  means  by  which  man  foresees  or  shapes 
the  future.  Upon  the  evidence  of  the  past,  the  contemplation  of  the  present 
of  this  people,  our  statesmen  were  willing  to  commence  a  system  which  must 
continually  draw,  for  its  sustenance  and  growth,  upon  the  virtue  and  vigor  of 
the  people.  From  this  virtue  and  this  vigor  ic  can  alone  be  nourished;  it 
must  decline  in  their  decline,  and  rot  in  their  decay.  They  traced  this  vigor 


328  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

and  virtue  to  inexhaustible  springs.  And,  as  the  unspent  heat  of  a  lava  soil, 
quickened  by  the  returning  summers,  through  the  vintages  of  a  thousand 
years,will  still  glow  in  the  grape  and  sparkle  in  the  wine,  so  will  the  exuberant 
forces  of  a  race  supply  an  unstinted  vigor  to  mark  the  virtues  of  immense 
populations,  and  to  the  remotest  generations. 

To  the  frivolous  philosophy  of  human  life  which  makes  all  the  world  a 
puppet  show,  and  history  a  book  of  anecdotes,  the  moral  warfare  which  fills 
up  the  life  of  man  and  the  record  of  his  race  seems  as  unreal  and  as  aimless 
as  the  conflicts  of  the  glittering  hosts  upon  the  airy  field,  whose  display  lights 
up  the  fleeting  splendors  of  a  northern  night.  But  free  government  for  a 
great  people  never  comes  from  or  gets  aid  from  such  philosophets.  To  a 
true  spiritual  discernment  there  are  few  things  more  real,  few  things  more 
substantial,  few  things  more  likely  to  endure  in  this  world  than  human 
thoughts,  human  passions,  human  interests,  thus  molten  into  the  frame  and 
model  of  our  state.  UO  morem  prczclaram,  disctflinamquc,  quain  a  major 
ibus  accepimus,  si quidem  tenet-emus!" 

I  have  made  no  account,  as  unsuitable  to  the  occasion,  of  the  distribution 
of  the  national  power  between  the  General  and  the  State  governments,  or 
of  the  special  arrangements  of  executive  authority,  of  the  legislatures,  courts 
and  magistracies,  whether  of  the  General  or  of  the  State  establishments. 
Collectively,  they  form  the  body  and  the  frame  of  a  complete  government  for 
a  great,  opulent  and  powerful  people,  occupying  vast  regions  and  embracing 
in  their  possessions  a  wide  range  of  diversity  of  climate,  of  soil,  and  of  all 
the  circumstantial  influences  of  external  nature.  I  have  pointed  your  atten- 
tion to  the  principle  and  the  spirit  of  the  government  for  which  all  this  frame 
and  body  exist,  to  which  they  are  subservient,  and  to  whose  mastery  they 
must  conform.  The  life  of  the  natural  body  is  the  blood,  and  the  circulation 
of  the  moral  and  intellectual  forces  and  impulses  of  the  body  politic  shapes 
and  molds  the  national  life.  I  have  touched,  therefore,  upon  the  traits  that 
determined  this  national  life,  as  to  be  of,  from  and  for  the  people,  and  not 
of,  from  or  for  any  rank,  grade,  part  or  section  of  them.  In  these  traits  are 
found  the  "ordinances,  constitutions  and  customs,"  by  a  wise  choice  of  which 
the  founders  of  states  may,  Lord  Bacon  says,  "sow  greatness  to  their  posterity 
and  succession." 

And  now,  after  a  century  of  growth,  of  trial,  of  experience,  of  observation, 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATIOV.  329 

and  of  demonstration,  we  are  met,  on  the  spot  and  on  the  date  of  the  great 
Declaration,  to  compare  our  age  with  that  of  our  fathers,  our  structure  with 
their  foundation,  our  intervening  history  and  present  condition  with  their 
faith  and  prophecy.  That  "  respect  to  the  opinion  of  mankind,"  in  attention 
to  which  our  statesmen  framed  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  we,  too, 
acknowledge  as  a  sentiment  most  fit  to  influence  us  in  our  commemorative 
gratulations  to-day. 

To  this  opinion  of  mankind,  then,  how  shall  we  answer  the  questioning 
of  this  day?  How  have  the  vigor  and  success  of  the  century's  warfare  com- 
ported with  the  sounding  phrase  of  the  great  manifesto?  Has  the  new  nation 
been  able  to  hold  its  territory  on  the  eastern  rim  of  the  continent,  or  has 
covetous  Europe  driven  in  its  boundaries,  or  internal  dissensions  dismembered 
its  integrity?  Have  its  numbers  kept  pace  with  natural  increase,  or  have  the 
mother  countries  received  back  to  the  shelter  of  firmer  institutions  the 
repentant  tide  of  emigration?  or  have  the  woes  of  unstable  society  distressed 
and  reduced  the  shrunken  population?  Has  the  free  suffrage,  as  a  quicksand, 
loosened  the  foundations  of  power  and  undermined  the  pillars  of  the  state? 
Has  the  free  press,  with  illimitable  sweep,  blown  down  the  props  and  but- 
tresses of  order  and  authority  in  government,  driven  before  its  wind  the  bar- 
riers which  fence  in  society,  and  unroofed  the  homes  which  once  were  castles 
against  the  intrusion  of  a  king?  Has  freedom  in  religion  ended  in  freedom 
from  religion?  and  independence  by  law  run  into  independence  of  law? 
Have  free  schools,  by  too  much  learning,  made  the  people  mad?  Have  man- 
ners declined,  letters  languished,  art  faded,  wealth  decayed,  public  spirit 
withered?  Have  other  nations  shunned  the  evil  example,  and  held  aloof 
from  its  infection?  Or  have  reflection  and  hard  fortune  dispelled  the  illusions 
under  which  this  people  "  burned  incense  to  vanity,  and  stumbled  in  their 
ways  from  the  ancient  paths  "?  Have  they,  fleeing  from,  the  double  destruc- 
tion which  attends  folly  and  arrogance,  restored  the  throne,  rebuilt  the  altar, 
relaid  the  foundations  of  society,  and  again  taken  shelter  in  the  old  protec- 
tions against  the  perils,  shocks  and  changes  in  human  affairs,  which  — 

"  Divert  and  crack,  rend  and  deracinate 
The  unity  and  married  calm  of  states 
Quite  from  their  fixture"? 

Who  can  recount  in  an  hour  what  has  been  done  in  a  century,  on  so  wide 


330  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

a  field,  and  in  all  its  multitudinous  aspects?  Yet  I  may  not  avoid  insisting 
upon  some  decisive  lineaments  of  the  material,  social  and  political  develop- 
ment of  our  country  which  the  record  of  the  hundred  years  displays,  and 
thus  present  to  "the  opinion  of  mankind,"  for  its  generous  judgment,  our 
nation  as  it  is  to-day  —  our  land,  our  people  and  our  laws.  And,  first,  we 
notice  the  wide  territory  to  which  we  have  steadily  pushed  on  our  limits. 
Lines  of  climate  mark  our  boundaries  north  and  south,  and  two  oceans  east 
and  west.  The  space  between,  speaking  by  and  large,  covers  the  whole 
temperate  zone  of  the  continent,  and,  in  area,  measures  near  ten-fold  the 
possessions  of  the  thirteen  colonies.  The  natural  features,  the  climate,  the 
productions,  the  influences  of  the  outward  world,  are  all  implied  in  the  im- 
mensity of  this  domain,  for  they  embrace  all  that  the  goodness  and  the 
power  of  God  have  planned  for  so  large  a  share  of  the  habitable  globe.  The 
steps  of  the  successive  acquisitions,  the  impulses  which  assisted,  and  the  mo- 
tives which  retarded  the  expansion  of  our  territory;  the  play  of  the  com 
peting  elements  in  our  civilization,  and  their  incessant  struggle  each  to  outrun 
the  other;  the  irrepressible  conflict  thus  nursed  in  the  bosom  of  the  state; 
the  lesson  in  humility  and  patience,  "  in  charity  for  all  and  malice  toward 
none,"  which  the  study  of  the  manifest  designs  of  Providence  so  plainly 
teach  us  —  these  may  well  detain  us  for  a  moment's  illustration. 

And  this  calls  attention  to  that  ingredient  in  the  population  of  this  coun- 
try which  came,  not  from  the  culminated  pride  of  Europe,  but  from  the 
abject  despondency  of  Africa,  a  race  discriminated  from  all  the  converging 
streams  of  immigration  which  I  have  named  by  ineffaceable  distinctions  of 
nature;  which  was  brought  hither  by  a  forced  migration  and  into  slavery, 
while  all  others  came  by  choice  and  for  greater  liberty;  a  race  unrepresented 
in  the  Congress  which  issued  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  but  now,  in 
the  persons  of  4,000,000  of  our  countrymen,  raised  by  the  power  of  the  great 
truths  then  declared,  as  it  were  from  the  dead,  and  rejoicing  in  one  country 
and  the  same  constituted  liberties  with  ourselves. 

In  August,  1620,  a  Dutch  slave-ship  landed  her  freight  in  Virginia,  com- 
pleting her  voyage  soon  after  that  of  the  Mayflower  commenced.  Both  ships 
were  on  the  ocean  at  the  same  time,  both  sought  our  shores,  and  planted 
their  seeds  of  liberty  and  slavery  to  grow  together  on  this  chosen  field  until 
the  harvest.  Until  the  separation  from  England  the  several  colonies  attracted 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  331 

each  their  own  emigration,  and  from  the  sparseness  of  the  population,  both 
in  the  Northern  and  Southern  colonies,  and  the  policy  of  England  in  intro- 
ducing African  slavery,  wherever  it  might,  in  all  of  them,  the  institution  of 
slavery  did  not  raise  a  definite  and  firm  line  of  division  between  the  tides  of 
population  which  set  in  upon  New  England  and  Virginia  from  the  Old 
World,  and  from  them  later,  as  from  new  points  of  departure,  were  diffused 
over  the  continent.  The  material  interests  of  slavery  had  not  become  very 
strong,  and  in  its  moral  aspects  no  sharp  division  of  sentiment  had  yet  shown 
itself.  But  when  unity  and  independence  of  government  were  accepted  by 
the  colonies,  we  shall  look  in  vain  for  any  adequate  barrier  against  the  natural 
attraction  of  the  softer  climate  and  rich  productions  of  the  South,  which 
could  keep  the  Northern  population  in  their  harder  climate  and  on  their  less 
grateful  soil,  except  the  repugnancy  of  the  two  systems  of  free  and  slave 
labor  to  commixture.  Out  of  this  grew  the  impatient,  and  apparently  pre- 
mature, invasion  of  the  Western  wilds,  pushing  constantly  onward,  in  parallel 
lines,  the  outposts  of  the  two  rival  interests.  What  greater  enterprise  did  for 
the  Northern  people  in  stimulating  this  movement  was  more  than  supplied  to 
the  Southern  by  the  pressing  necessity  for  new  lands,  which  the  requirements 
of  the  system  of  slave  cultivation  imposed.  Under  the  operation  of  these 
causes  the  political  divisions  of  the  country  built  up  a  wall  of  partition  run- 
ning east  and  west,  with  the  novel  consequences  of  the  "  border  States  "  of 
the  country  being  ranged,  not  op  our  foreign  boundaries,  but  on  this  middle 
line  drawn  between  the  free  and  slave  States.  The  successive  acquisitions  of 
territory,  by  the  Louisiana  purchase,  by  the  annexation  of  Texas,  and  the 
treaty  with  Mexico,  were  all  in  the  interest  of  the  Southern  policy,  and,  as 
such,  all  suspected  or  resisted  by  the  rival  interest  in  the  North.  On  the 
other  hand,  all  schemes  or  tendencies  toward  the  enlargement  of  our  terri- 
tory on  the  north  were  discouraged  and  defeated  by  the  South.  At  length, 
with  the  immense  influx  of  foreign  immigration,  reinforcing  the  flow  of  pop- 
ulation, the  streams  of  fre,e  labor  shot  across  the  continent.  The  end  was 
reached,  the  bounds  of  our  habitation  were  secured.  The  Pacific  possessions 
became  ours,  and  the  discovered  gold  rapidly  peopled  them  from  the  hives 
of  free  labor.  The  rival  energies  and  ambitions  which  had  fed  the  thirst  for 
territory  had  served  their  purpose  in  completing  and  assuring  the  domain  of 
the  nation.  The  partition-wall  of  slavery  was  thrown  down;  the  line  of 


332  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

border  States  obliterated;  those  who  had  battled  for  territory,  as  an  extension 
and  perpetuation  of  slavery,  and  those  who  had  fought  against  its  enlarge- 
ment, as  a  disparagement  and  a  danger  to  liberty,  were  alike  confounded. 
Those  who  feared  undue  and  precipitate  expansion  of  our  possessions,  as 
loosening  the  bonds  of  union,  and  those  who  desired  it,  as  a  step  toward 
dissolution,  have  suffered  a  common  discomfiture.  The  immense  social  and 
political  forces  which  the  existence  of  slavery  in  this  country  and  the  invin- 
cible repugnance  to  it  of  the  vital  principles  of  our  state,  together,  generated, 
have  had  their  play  upon  the  passions  and  the  interests  of  this  people,  have 
formed  the  basis  of  parties,  divided  sects,  agitated  and  invigorated  the  popu- 
lar mind,  inspired  the  eloquence,  inflamed  the  zeal,  informed  the  understand- 
ings, and  fired  the  hearts  of  three  generations.  At  last  the  dread  debate 
escaped  all  bounds  of  reason,  and  the  nation  in  arms  solved,  by  the  appeal 
of  war,  what  was  too  hard  for  civil  wisdom.  With  our  territoiy  unmutilated, 
our  constitution  uncorrupted,  a  united  people,  in  the  last  years  of  the  century 
crowns  with  new  glory  the  immortal  truths  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence by  the  emancipation  of  a  race. 

I  find,  then,  in  the  method  and  the  result  of  the  century's  progress  of  the 
nation  in  this  amplification  of  its  domain,  sure  promise  of  the  duration  of  the 
body  politic,  whose  growth  to  these  vast  proportions  has,  as  yet,  but  laid  out 
the  ground-plan  of  the  structure.  For  I  find  the  vital  forces  of  the  free 
society,  and  the  people's  government,  here  founded,  have  by  their  own  vigor 
made  this  a  natural  growth.  Strength  and  symmetry  have  knit  together  the 
greaf.  frame  as  its  bulk  increased,  and  the  spirit  of  the  nation  animates  the 

whole: 

"  totamque,  infusa  per  artus, 

Mens  agitat  molem,  et  magno  se  corpore  miscet." 

We  turn  now  from  the  survey  of  this  vast  territory,  which  the  closing  cen- 
tury has  consolidated  and  confirmed  as  the  ample  home  for  a  nation,  to 
exhibit  the  greatness  in  numbers,  the  spirit,  the  character,  the  port  and  mien 
of  the  people  that  dwell  in  this  secure  habitation.  That  in  these  years  our 
population  has  steadily  advanced,  till  it  counts  forty  millions  instead  of  three, 
bears  witness,  not  to  be  disparaged  or  gainsaid,  to  the  general  congruity  of 
our  social  and  civil  institutions  with  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  man. 
But  if  we  consider  further  the  variety  and  magnitude  of  foreign  elements  to 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  333 

which  we  have  been  hospitable,  and  their  ready  fusion  with  the  earlier  stocks, 
we  have  new  evidence  of  strength  and  vivid  force  in  our  population  which 
we  may  not  refuse  to  admire.  The  disposition  and  capacity  thus  shown 
give  warrant  of  a  powerful  society.  "All  nations,"  says  Lord  Bacon,  "  that 
are  liberal  of  naturalization  are  fit  for  empire." 

Wealth  in  its  mass,  and  still  more  in  its  tenure  and  diffusion,  is  a  measure 
of  the  condition  of  a  people,  which  touches  both  its  energy  and  morality. 
Wealth  has  no  source  but  labor.  "  Life  has  given  nothing  valuable  to  man 
without  great  labor."  This  is  as  true  now  as  when  Horace  wrote  it.  The 
prodigious  growth  of  wealth  in  this  country  is  not  only,  therefore,  a  signal 
mark  of  prosperity,  but  proves  industry,  persistency,  thrift,  as  the  habits  of 
the  people.  Accumulation  of  wealth,  too,  requires  and  imparts  security,  as 
well  as  unfettered  activity;  and  thus  it  is  a  fair  criterion  of  sobriety  and  jus- 
tice in  a  people,  certainly,  when  the  laws  and  their  execution  rest  wholly  in 
their  hands.  A  careless  observation  of  the  crimes  and  frauds  which  attack 
prosperity,  in  the  actual  condition  of  our  society,  and  the  imperfection  of  our 
means  for  their  prevention  and  redress,  leads  sometimes  to  an  unfavorable 
comparison  between  the  present  and  the  past,  in  this  country,  as  respects  the 
probity  of  the  people.  No  doubt  covetousness  has  not  ceased  in  the  world, 
and  thieves  still  break  through  and  steal.  But  the  better  test  upon  this 
point  is  the  vast  profusion  of  our  wealth,  and  the  infinite  trust  shown  by  the 
manner  in  which  it  is  invested.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  in  our  times, 
and  conspicuously  in  our  country,  a  large  share  of  every  man's  property  is  in 
other  men's  keeping  and  management,  unwatched  and  beyond  personal  con- 
trol. This  confidence  of  man  in  man  is  ever  increasing,  measured  by  our 
practical  conduct,  and  refutes  these  disparagements  of  the  general  morality. 

Knowledge,  intellectual  activity,  the  mastery  of  nature,  the  discipline  of 
life  —  all  that  makes  up  the  education  of  a  people  —  are  developed  and  dif- 
fused through  the  masses  of  our  population,  in  so  ample  and  generous  a  dis- 
tribution as  to  make  this  the  conspicuous  trait  in  our  national  character,  as  the 
faithful  provision  and  extension  of  the  means  and  opportunities  of  this  edu- 
cation, are  the  cherished  institution  of  the  country.  Learning,  literature, 
science,  art,  are  cultivated,  in  their  widest  range  and  highest  reach,  by  a 
larger  and  larger  number  of  our  people  —  not,  to  their  praise  be  it  said,  as  a 
personal  distinction  or  a  selfish  possession,  but  mainly  as  a  generous  leaven, 


334  BEN  BEVERLY   A.T  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

to  quicken  and  expand  the  healthful  fermentation  of  the  general  mind,  and 
lift  the  level  of  popular  instruction.  So  far  from  breeding  a  distempered 
spirit  in  the  people,  this  becomes  the  main  prop  of  authority,  the  great  instinct 
of  obedience.  "It  is  by  education,"  says  Aristotle,  "I  have  learned  to  do  by 
choice  what  other  men  do  by  constraint  of  fear." 

The  "breed  and  disposition"  of  a  people,  in  regard  of  courage,  public 
spirit  and  patriotism,  are,  however,  the  test  of  the  working  of  their  institutions 
which  the  world  most  values,  and  upon  which  the  public  safety  most  depends. 
It  has  been  made  a  reproach  of  democratic  arrangements  of  society  and  gov- 
ernment that  the  sentiment  of  honor,  and  of  pride  in  public  duty,  decayed 
in  them.  It  has  been  professed  that  the  fluctuating  currents  and  the  trivial 
perturbations  of  their  public  life  discouraged  strenuous  endeavor  and  lasting 
devotion  in  the  public  service.  It  has  been  charged  that,  is  a  consequence, 
the  distinct  service  of  the  state  suffered,  office  and  magistraet  were  belittled, 
social  sympathies  cooled,  love  of  country  drooped,  and  selfish  affections 
absorbed  the  powers  of  the  citizens,  and  eat  into  the  heart  of  the  common- 
wealth. 

The  experience  of  our  country  rejects  these  speculations  as  misplaced,  and 
these  fears  as  illusory.  They  belong -to  a  condition  of  society  above  which 
we  have  long  since  been  lifted,  and  toward  which  the  very  scheme  of  our 
national  life  prohibits  a  decline.  They  are  drawn  from  the  examples  of  his- 
tory which  lodged  power,  formally,  in  the  people,  but  left  them  ignorant  and 
abject,  unfurnished  with  the  means  of  exercising  it  in  their  own  right  and  for 
their  own  benefit.  In  a  democracy  wielded  by  the  arts,  and  to  the  ends  of  a 
patrician  class,  the  less  worthy  members  of  that  class,  no  doubt,  throve  by 
the  disdain  which  noble  characters  must  always  feel  for  methods  of  deception 
and  insincerity,  and  crowded  them  from  the  authentic  service  of  the  state. 
But,  through  the  period  whose  years  we  count  to-day,  the  greatest  lesson  of 
all  is  the  preponderance  of  public  over  private,  of  social  over  selfish,  tenden- 
cies and  purposes  in  the  whole  body  of  the  people,  and  the  persistent  fidelity 
to  the  genius  and  spirit  of  popular  institutions,  of  the  educated  classes,  the 
liberal  professions,  and  the  great  men  of  the  country.  These  qualities  trans- 
fuse and  blend  the  hues  and  virtues  of  the  manifold  rays  of  advanced  civili  - 
zation  into  a  sunlight  of  public  spirit  and  fervid  patriotism  which  warms  and 
irradiates  the  life  of  the  nation.  Excess  of  publicity  as  the  animating  spirit 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  335 

and  stimulus  of  society,  more  probably  than  its  lack,  will  excite  our  solicitudes 
in  the  future.  Even  the  public  discontents  take  on  this  color,  and  the  mind 
and  heart  of  the  whole  people  ache  with  anxieties  and  throb  with  griefs 
which  have  no  meaner  scope  than  the  honor  and  the  safety  of  the  nation. 

Our  estimate  of  the  condition  of  this  people  at  the  close  of  the  century  — 
as  bearing  on  the  value  and  efficiency  of  the  principles  on  which  the  govern- 
ment was  founded,  in  maintaining  and  securing  the  permanent  well-being  of 
a  nation  —  would,  indeed,  be  incomplete,  if  we  failed  to  measure  the  power 
and  purity  of  the  religious  elements  which  pervade  and  elevate  our  society. 
One  might  as  well  expect  our  land  to  keep  its  climate,  its  fertility,  its  salu- 
brity, and  its  beauty,  were  the  globe  loosened  from  the  law  which  holds  it  in 
an  orbit,  where  we  feel  the  tempered  radiance  of  the  sun,  as  to  count  upon 
the  preservation  of  the  delights  and  glories  of  liberty  for  a  people  cast  loose 
from  religion,  whereby  man  is  bound  in  harmony  with  the  moral  government 
of  the  world. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  the  present  day  shows  no  such  solemn  absorption  in 
the  exalted  themes  of  contemplative  piety,  as  marked  the  prevalent  thought  of 
the  people  a  hundred  years  ago;  nor  so  hopeful  an  enthusiasm  for  the  speedy 
renovation  of  the  world,  as  burst  upon  us  in  the  marvelous  and  wide  system 
of  vehement  religious  zeal,  and  practical  good  works,  in  the  early  part  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  But  these  fires  are  less  splendid,  only  because  they 
are  more  potent,  and  diffuse  their  heat  in  well  formed  habits  and  manifold 
agencies  of  beneficent  activity.  They  traverse  and  permeate  society  in  every 
direction.  They  travel  with  the  outposts  of  civilization,  and  outrun  the  cau- 
cus, the  convention,  and  the  suffrage. 

The  church,  throughout  this  land,  upheld  by  no  political  establishment, 
rests  all  the  firmer  on  the  rock  on  which  its  founder  built  it.  The  great  mass 
of  our  countrymen  to  day,  find  in  the  Bible  —  the  Bible  in  their  worship,  the 
Bible  in  their  schools,  the  Bible  in  their  households  —  the  sufficient  lessons 
of  the  fear  of  God  and  the  love  of  man,  which  make  them  obedient  servants 
to  the  free  constitution  of  their  country  in  all  civil  duties,  and  ready  with 
their  lives  to  sustain  it  on  the  fields  of  war.  And  now  at  the  end  of  a  hun- 
dred years  the  Christian  faith  collects  its  worshipers  througout  our  land,  as  at 
the  beginning.  What  half  a  century  ago  was  hopefully  prophesied  for  our 
far  future  goes  on  to  its  fulfillment:  "As  the  sun  rises  on  a  Sabbath  morning 


336  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

and  travels  westward  from  Newfoundland  to  the  Oregon,  he  will  behold  the 
countless  millions  assembling  as  if  by  a  common  impulse,  in  the  temples 
with  which  every  valley,  mountain,  and  plain  will  be  adorned.  The  morning 
psalm  and  the  evening  anthem  will  commence  with  the  multitudes  on  the 
Atlantic  coast,  be  sustained  by  the  loud  chorus  of  ten  thousand  times  ten 
thousand  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  be  prolonged  by  the  thou- 
sands of  thousands  on  the  shores  of  the  Pacific." 

What  remains  but  to  search  the  spirit  of  the  la>vs  of  the  land  as  framed 
by  and  modeled  to  the  popular  government  to  which  our  fortunes  were 
committed  by  the  Declaration  of  Independence?  I  do  not  mean  to  examine 
the  particular  legislation,  State  or  general,  by  which  the  affairs  of  the  peo- 
ple have  been  managed,  sometimes  wisely  and  well,  at  others  feebly  and  ill; 
nor  even  the  fundamental  arrangement  of  political  authority,  or  the  critical 
treatment  of  great  junctures  in  our  policy  and  history.  The  hour  and  the 
occasion  concur  to  preclude  so  intimate  an  inquiry.  The  chief  concern  in 
this  regard,  to  us  and  to  the  rest  of  the  world,  is,  whether  the  proud  trust,  the 
profound  radicalism,  the  wide  benevolence  which  spoke  in  the  "  Declaration  " 
and  were  infused  into  the  "Constitution"  at  the  first,  have  been  in  good  faith 
adhered  to  by  the  people,  and  whether  now  these  principles  supply  the  living 
forces  which  sustain  and  direct  government  and  society. 

He  who  doubts  needs  but  to  look  around  to  find  all  things  full  of  the  ori- 
ginal spirit,  and  testifying  to  its  wisdom  and  strength.  We  have  taken  no 
steps  backward,  nor  have  we  needed  to  seek  other  paths  in  our  progress  than 
those  in  which  our  feet  were  planted  at  the  beginning.  Weighty  and  mani- 
fold have  been  our  obligations  to  the  great  nations  of  the  earth,  to  their 
scholars,  their  philosophers,  their  men  of  genius  and  of  science;  to  their  skill, 
their  taste,  their  invention;  to  their  wealth,  their  arts,  their  industiy.  But  in 
the  institutions  and  methods  of  government;  in  civil  prudence,  courage  or 
policy;  in  statesmanship;  in  the  art  of  "making  of  a  small  town  a  great  city;" 
in  the  adjustment  of  authority  to  liberty;  in  the  concurrence  of  reason  and 
strength  in  peace,  of  force  and  obedience  in  war;  we  have  found  nothing  to 
recall  us  from  the  course  of  our  fathers,  nothing  to  add  to  our  safety  or  to  aid 
our  progress  in  it.  So  far  from  this,  all  modifications  of  European  politics 
accept  the  popular  principles  of  our  system,  and  tend  to  our  model.  The 
movements  toward  equality  of  representation,  enlargement  of  the  suffrage, 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  337 

and  public  education  in  England;  the  restoration  of  unity  in  Italy;  the  con* 
federation  of  Germany  under  the  lead  of  Prussia;  the  actual  republic  in 
France;  the  unsteady  throne  of  Spain;  the  new  liberties  of  Hungary;  the 
constant  gain  to  the  people's  share  in  government  throughout  Europe;  all 
tend  one  way,  the  way  pointed  out  in  the  Declaration  of  our  Independence. 

The  care  and  zeal  with  which  our  people  cherish  and  invigorate  the  pri- 
mary supports  and  defenses  of  their  own  sovereignty  have  all  the  unswerving 
force  and  confidence  of  instincts.  The  community  and  publicity  of  educa- 
tion, at  the  charge  and  as  an  institution  of  the  state,  is  firmly  imbedded  in 
the  wants  and  the  desires  of  the  people.  Common  schools  are  rapidly 
extending  through  the  only  part  of  the  country  which  had  been  shut  against 
them,  and  follow  close  upon  the  footsteps  of  its  new  liberty  to  enlighten  the 
enfranchised  race.  Freedom  of  conscience  easily  stamps  out  the  first  sparkles 
of  persecution,  and  snaps  as  green  withes  the  first  bonds  of  spiritual  domina- 
tion. The  sacred  oracles  of  their  religion  the  people  wisely  hold  in  their  own 
keeping  as  the  keys  of  religious  liberty,  and  refuse  to  be  beguiled  by  the 
voice  of  the  wisest  charmer  into  loosing  their  grasp. 

Freedom  from  military  power,  and  the  maintenance  of  that  arm  of  gov- 
ernment in  the  people;  a  trust  in  their  own  adequacy  as  soldiers,  when  their 
duty  as  citizens  should  need  to  take  on  that  form  of  service  to  the  state;  these 
have  gained  new  force  by  the  experience  of  foreign  and  civil  war,  and  a 
standing  army  is  a  remoter  possibility  for  this  nation,  in  its  present  or  pro- 
spective greatness,  than  in  the  days  of  its  small  beginnings. 

But  in  the  freedom  of  the  press,  and  the  universality  of  the  suffrage,  as 
maintained  and  exercised  to-day  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land,  we  find  the  most  conspicuous  and  decisive  evidence  of  the  unspent  force 
of  the  institutions  of  liberty  and  the  jealous  guard  of  its  principal  defenses. 
These  indeed  are  the  great  agencies  and  engines  of  the  people's  sovereignty. 
They  hold  the  same  relations  to  the  vast  democracy  of  modern  society  that 
the  persuasions  of  the  orators  and  the  personal  voices  of  the  assembly  did  in 
the  narrow  confines  of  the  Grecian  states.  The  laws,  the  customs,  the  im- 
pulses and  sentiments  of  the  people  have  given  wider  and  wider  range  and 
license  to  the  agitations  of  the  press,  multiplied  and  more  frequent  occasions 
for  the  exercise  of  the  suffrage,  larger  and  larger  communication  of  its  fran- 
chise. The  progress  of  a  hundred  years  finds  these  prodigious  activities  in 


338  BEN  BEVERLY  AT  THE  GREAT  EXPOSITION. 

their  fullest  play  —  incessant  and  all-powerful  —  indispensable  in  the  habits 
of  the  people,  and  impregnable  in  their  affections.  Their  public  service,  and 
their  subordination  to  the  public  safety,  stand  in  their  play  upon  one  another 
and  in  their  freedom  thus  maintained.  Neither  could  long  exist  in  true  vigor 
in  our  system  without  the  other.  Without  the  watchful,  omnipresent  and 
indomitable  energy  of  the  press  the  suffrage  would  languish,  would  be  subju- 
gated by  the  corporate  power  of  the  legions  of  placemen  which  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  affairs  of  a  great  nation  imposes  upon  it,  and  fall  a  prey  to  that 
"  vast  patronage  which,"  we  are  told,  "  distracted,  corrupted,  and  finally  sub- 
verted the  Roman  republic."  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  impressions  of  the 
press  upon  the  opinions  and  passions  of  the  people  found  no  settled  and 
ready  mode  of  their  working  out,  through  the  frequent  and  peaceful  suffrage, 
the  people  would  be  driven,  to  satisfy  their  displeasure  at  government  or 
their  love  of  change,  to  the  coarse  methods  of  barricades  and  batteries. 

We  cannot,  then,  hesitate  to  declare  that  the  original  principles  of  equal 
society  and  popular  government  still  inspire  the  laws,  live  in  the  habits  of 
the  people,  and  animate  their  purposes  and  their  hopes.  These  principles 
have  not  lost  their  spring  or  elasticity.  They  have  sufficed  for  all  the  methods 
of  government  in  the  past;  we  feel  no  fear  for  their  adequacy  in  the  future. 
Released  now  from  the  tasks  and  burdens  of  the  formative  period,  these 
principles  and  methods  can  be  directed  with  undivided  force  to  the  everyday 
conduct  of  government,  to  the  staple  and  steady  virtues  of  administration. 
The  feebleness  of  crowding  the  statute-books  with  unexecuted  laws;  the  dan- 
ger of  power  outgrowing  or  evading  responsibility;  the  rashness  and  fickleness 
of  temporary  expedients;  the  constant  tendency  by  which  parties  decline  into 
factions  and  end  in  conspiracies;  all  these  mischiefs  beset  all  governments, 
and  are  part  of  the  life  of  each  generation.  To  deal  with  these  evils — the 
tasks  and  burdens  of  the  immediate  future  —  the  nation  needs  no  other 
resources  than  the  principles  and  examples  which  our  past  history  supplies. 
These  principles,  these  examples  of  our  fathers,  are  the  strength  and  safety 
of  our  state  to-day:  "Moribus  antiquis,  stat  res  Romana,  •virisque." 

Unity,  liberty,  power,  prosperity — -these  are  our  possessions  to  day.  Our 
territory  is  safe  against  foreign  dangers;  its  completeness  dissuades  from  fur- 
ther ambitions  to  extend  it,  and  its  rounded  symmetry  discourages  all  attempts 
to  dismember  it.  No  division  into  greatly  unequal  parts  would  be  tolerable 


THE  CENTENNIAL  ORATION.  339 

to  either.  No  imaginable  union  of  interests  or  passions,  large  enough  to 
include  one-half  the  country,  but  must  embrace  much  more.  The  madness 
of  partition  into  numerous  and  feeble  fragments  could  proceed  only  from  the 
hopeless  degradation  of  the  people,  and  would  form  but  an  incident  in  gen- 
eral ruin. 

The  spirit  of  the  nation  is  at  the  highest  —  its  triumph  over  the  inborn, 
inbred  perils  of  the  constitution  has  chased  away  all  fears,  justified  all  hopes, 
and  with  universal  joy  we  greet  this  day.  We  have  not  proved  unworthy  of 
a  great  ancestry;  we  have  had  the  virtue  to  uphold  what  they  so  wisely,  so 
firmly  established.  With  these  proud  possessions  of  the  past,  with  powers 
matured,  with  principles  settled,  with  habits  formed,  the  nation  passes  as  it 
were  from  preparatory  growth  to  responsible  development  of  character,  and 
the  steady  performance  of  duty.  What  labors  await  it,  what  trials  shall 
attend  it,  what  triumphs  for  human  nature,  what  glory  for  itself,  are  prepared 
for  this  people  in  the  coming  century,  we  may  not  assume  to  foretell.  "  One 
generation  passeth  away,  and  another  generation  cometh,  but  the  earth 
abideth  forever,"  and  we  reverently  hope  that  these  our  constituted  liberties 
shall  be  maintained  to  the  unending  line  of  our  posterity  and  so  long  as  the 
earth  itself  shall  endure. 

In  the  great  procession  of  nations,  in  the  great  march  of  humanity,  we 
hold  our  place.  Peace  is  our  duty,  peace  is  our  policy.  In  its  arts,  its  labors 
and  its  victories,  then,  we  find  scope  for  all  our  energies,  rewards  for  all  our 
ambitions,  renown  enough  for  all  our  love  of  fame.  In  the  august  presence 
of  so  many  nations,  which,  by  their  representatives,  have  done  us  the  honor 
to  be  witnesses  of  our  commemorative  joy  and  gratulation,  and  in  sight  of  the 
collected  evidences  of  the  greatness  of  their  own  civilization  with  which  they 
grace  our  celebration,  we  may  well  confess  how  much  we  fall  short,  how  much 
we  have  to  make  up,  in  the  emulative  competitions  of  the  times.  Yet,  even 
in  this  presence,  and  with  a  just  deference  to  the  age,  the  power,  the  greatness 
of  the  other  nations  of  the  earth,  we  do  not  fear  to  appeal  to  the  opinion  of 
mankind,  whether,  as  we  point  to  our  land,  our  people  and  our  laws,  the  con- 
templation should  not  inspire  us  with  a  lover's  enthusiasm  for  our  country. 

Time  makes  no  pauses  in  his  march.  Even  while  I  speak  the  last  hour  of 
the  receding  is  replaced  by  the  first  hour  of  the  coming  century,  and  reverence 
for  the  past  gives  way  to  the  joys  and  hopes,  the  activities  and  the  responsi- 


340 


THE    CENTENNIAL    ORATION. 


bilities  of  the  future.  A  hundred  years  hence  the  piety  of  that  generation 
will  recall  the  ancestral  glory  which  we  celebrate  to-day,  and  crown  it  with 
the  plaudits  of  a  vast  population  which  no  man  can  number.  By  the  mere 
circumstance  of  this  periodicity  our  generation  will  be  in  the  minds,  in  the 
hearts,  on  the  lips  of  our  countrymen  at  the  next  centennial  commemoration, 
in  comparison  with  their  own  character  and  condition  and  with  the  great 
founders  of  the  nation.  What  shall  they  say  of  us?  How  shall  they  estimate 
the  part  we  bear  in  the  unbroken  line  of  the  nation's  progress?  And  so  on, 
in  the  long  reach  of  time,  forever  and  forever,  our  place  in  the  secular  roll 
of  the  ages  must  always  bring  us  into  observation  and  criticism.  Under  this 
double  trust,  then,  from  the  past  and  for  the  future,  let  us  take  heed  to  our 
ways,  and,  while  it  is  called  to-day,  resolve  that  the  great  heritage  we  have 
received  shall  be  handed  down  through  the  long  line  of  advancing  genera- 
tions, the  home  of  liberty,  the  abode  of  justice,  the  stronghold  of  faith 
among  men,  "which  holds  the  moral  elements  of  the  world  together,"  and 
of  faith  in  God,  which  binds  that  world  to  His  throne. 


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